AN ACT
to restore confidence in government by establishing the voter information
verification act to promote the electoral process through education and
increased registration of voters and by requiring voters to provide photo
identification before voting to protect the right of each registered voter to
cast a secure vote with reasonable security measures that confirm voter
identity as accurately as possible without restriction, and to further reform
the election laws.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

PART 1. SHORT TITLE

SECTION 1.1. Parts 1 through 6 of this act shall
be known and cited as the Voter Information Verification Act.

PART 2. PHOTO IDENTIFICATION

SECTION 2.1. Article 14A of Chapter 163 of the
General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 163‑166.13.
Photo identification requirement for voting in person.

(a)Every qualified voter voting in person in
accordance with this Article, G.S. 163‑227.2, or G.S. 163‑182.1A
shall present photo identification bearing any reasonable resemblance to that
voter to a local election official at the voting place before voting, except as
follows:

(2)For a registered voter who has a
sincerely held religious objection to being photographed and has filed a
declaration in accordance with G.S. 163‑82.7A at least 25 days
before the election in which that voter is voting in person, that voter shall
not be required to provide photo identification.

(3)For a registered voter who is a victim of
a natural disaster occurring within 60 days before election day that resulted
in a disaster declaration by the President of the United States or the Governor
of this State who declares the lack of photo identification due to the natural
disaster on a form provided by the State Board, that voter shall not be
required to provide photo identification in any county subject to such
declaration. The form shall be available from the State Board of Elections,
from each county board of elections in a county subject to the disaster declaration,
and at each polling place and one‑stop early voting site in that county.
The voter shall submit the completed form at the time of voting.

(b)Any voter who complies with subsection (a)
of this section shall be permitted to vote.

(c)Any voter who does not comply with
subsection (a) of this section shall be permitted to vote a provisional
official ballot which shall be counted in accordance with G.S. 163‑182.1A.

(d)The local election official to whom the
photo identification is presented shall determine if the photo identification bears
any reasonable resemblance to the voter presenting the photo identification. If
it is determined that the photo identification does not bear any reasonable
resemblance to the voter, the local election official shall comply with G.S. 163‑166.14.

(e)As used in this section, "photo
identification" means any one of the following that contains a photograph
of the registered voter. In addition, the photo identification shall have a
printed expiration date and shall be unexpired, provided that any voter having
attained the age of 70 years at the time of presentation at the voting place
shall be permitted to present an expired form of any of the following that was
unexpired on the voter's 70th birthday. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, in
the case of identification under subdivisions (4) through (6) of this
subsection, if it does not contain a printed expiration date, it shall be
acceptable if it has a printed issuance date that is not more than eight years
before it is presented for voting:

(1)A North Carolina drivers license issued
under Article 2 of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes, including a learner's
permit or a provisional license.

(2)A special identification card for
nonoperators issued under G.S. 20‑37.7.

(3)A United States passport.

(4)A United States military identification
card, except there is no requirement that it have a printed expiration or
issuance date.

(5)A Veterans Identification Card issued by
the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for use at Veterans
Administration medical facilities facilities, except there is no requirement
that it have a printed expiration or issuance date.

(6)A tribal enrollment card issued by a
federally recognized tribe or a tribe recognized by this State under Chapter
71A of the General Statutes.

(7)A drivers license or nonoperators
identification card issued by another state, the District of Columbia, or a territory
or commonwealth of the United States, but only if the voter's voter
registration was within 90 days of the election."

SECTION 2.2. Article 14A of Chapter 163 of the
General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

(a)Any local election official that
determines the photo identification presented by a voter in accordance with G.S. 163‑166.13
does not bear any reasonable resemblance to that voter shall notify the judges
of election of the determination.

(b)When notified under subsection (a) of
this section, the judges of election present shall review the photo
identification presented and the voter to determine if the photo identification
bears any reasonable resemblance to that voter. The judges of election present may
consider information presented by the voter in addition to the photo
identification and shall construe all evidence presented in a light most
favorable to the voter.

(c)A voter subject to subsections (a) and
(b) of this section shall be permitted to vote unless the judges of election
present unanimously agree that the photo identification presented does not bear
any reasonable resemblance to that voter. The failure of the judges of election
present to unanimously agree that photo identification presented by a voter
does not bear any reasonable resemblance to that voter shall be dispositive of
any challenges that may otherwise be made under G.S. 163‑85(c)(10).

(d)A voter subject to subsections (a) and
(b) of this section shall be permitted to vote a provisional ballot in
accordance with G.S. 163‑88.1 if the judges of election present
unanimously agree that the photo identification presented does not bear any
reasonable resemblance to that voter.

(e)At any time a voter presents photo
identification to a local election official other than on election day, the county
board of elections shall have available to the local election official judges
of election for the review required under subsection (b) of this section,
appointed in the manner as is in Article 5 of this Chapter, except that the
individuals (i) may reside anywhere in the county or (ii) be an employee of the
county or the State. Neither the local election official nor the judges of
election may be a county board member. The county board is not required to have
the same judges of election available throughout the time period a voter may
present photo identification other than on election day but shall have at least
two judges, who are not of the same political party affiliation, available at
all times during that period.

(f)Any local or State employee appointed
to serve as a judge of election may hold that office in addition to the number
permitted by G.S. 128‑1.1.

(g)The county board of elections shall
cause to be made a record of all voters subject to subsection (c) of this
section. The record shall include all of the following:

(1)The name and address of the voter.

(2)The name of the local election official
under subsection (a) of this section.

(3)The names and a record of how each judge
of election voted under subsection (b) of this section.

(4)The date of the determinations under
subsections (a) and (b) of this section.

(5)A brief description of the photo
identification presented by the voter.

(h)For purposes of this section, the term "judges
of election" shall have the following meanings:

(1)On election day, the chief judge and
judges of election as appointed under Article 5 of this Chapter.

(2)Any time other than on election day, the
individuals appointed under subsection (e) of this section.

(i)The State Board shall adopt rules for
the administration of this section."

SECTION 2.3. Article 7A of Chapter 163 of the
General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 163‑82.7A.
Declaration of religious objection to photograph.

(a)At the time of approval of the
application to register to vote, a voter with a sincerely held religious
objection to being photographed may execute a declaration before an election
official to that effect to be incorporated as part of the official record of voter
registration.

(b)At any time after the voter has
registered to vote that the voter has determined the voter has a sincerely held
religious objection to being photographed, that voter may execute a declaration
before an election official to be incorporated as part of the official record
of that voter's voter registration.

(c)At any time after a voter has executed a
declaration before an election official under this section and that voter no
longer has a sincerely held religious objection to being photographed, that
voter may request the cancellation of the declaration in writing to the county
board.

(d)All declarations under subsections (a)
and (b) of this section shall include a statement by the voter that the voter has
a sincerely held religious objection to being photographed and a requirement
for the signature of the voter, which includes a notice that a false or
fraudulent declaration is a Class I felony pursuant to G.S. 163‑275(13).

(e)The State Board shall adopt rules to
establish a standard form for the administration of this section."

SECTION 2.5. G.S. 163‑166.7(a) reads
as rewritten:

"(a) Checking Registration. – A person seeking to
vote shall enter the voting enclosure through the appropriate entrance. A
precinct official assigned to check registration shall at once ask the voter to
state current name and residence address. The voter shall answer by stating
current name and residence address. address and presenting photo
identification in accordance with G.S. 163‑166.13. In a primary
election, that voter shall also be asked to state, and shall state, the
political party with which the voter is affiliated or, if unaffiliated, the
authorizing party in which the voter wishes to vote. After examination, that
official shall state whether that voter is duly registered to vote in that
precinct and shall direct that voter to the voting equipment or to the official
assigned to distribute official ballots. If a precinct official states that the
person is duly registered, the person shall sign the pollbook, other voting
record, or voter authorization document in accordance with subsection (c) of
this section before voting."

SECTION 2.6. G.S. 163‑166.9 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑166.9.
Curbside voting.

(a) In any election or referendum, if any
qualified voter is able to travel to the voting place, but because of age or
physical disability and physical barriers encountered at the voting place is
unable to enter the voting enclosure to vote in person without physical
assistance, that voter shall be allowed to vote either in the vehicle conveying
that voter or in the immediate proximity of the voting place.

(b)Any qualified voter voting under this
section shall comply with G.S. 163‑166.13(a) by one of the following
means:

(c) The State Board of Elections shall promulgate
adopt rules for the administration of this section."

SECTION 2.7. G.S. 163‑227.2(b) reads
as rewritten:

"(b) Not earlier than the third Thursday before an
election, in which absentee ballots are authorized, in which a voter seeks to
vote and not later than 1:00 P.M. on the last Saturday before that election,
the voter shall appear in person only at the office of the county board of
elections, except as provided in subsection (g) of this section. A county board
of elections shall conduct one‑stop voting on the last Saturday before
the election until 1:00 P.M. and may conduct it until 5:00 P.M. on that
Saturday. That voter shall enter the voting enclosure at the board office
through the appropriate entrance and shall at once state his or her name and
place of residence to an authorized member or employee of the board. board
and present photo identification in accordance with G.S. 163‑166.13.
In a primary election, the voter shall also state the political party with
which the voter affiliates and in whose primary the voter desires to vote, or
if the voter is an unaffiliated voter permitted to vote in the primary of a
particular party under G.S. 163‑119, the voter shall state the name
of the authorizing political party in whose primary he wishes to vote. The
board member or employee to whom the voter gives this information shall
announce the name and residence of the voter in a distinct tone of voice. After
examining the registration records, an employee of the board shall state
whether the person seeking to vote is duly registered. If the voter is found to
be registered that voter may request that the authorized member or employee of
the board furnish the voter with an application form as specified in G.S. 163‑227.
The voter shall complete the application in the presence of the authorized
member or employee of the board, and shall deliver the application to that
person."

SECTION 2.8. Article 15A of Chapter 163 of the
General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 163‑182.1A.
Counting of provisional official ballots cast due to failure to provide photo
identification when voting in person.

(a)Unless disqualified for some other
reason provided by law, the county board of elections shall find that a voter's
provisional official ballot cast as a result of failing to present photo
identification when voting in person in accordance with G.S. 163‑166.13
is valid and direct that the provisional ballot be opened and counted in
accordance with this Chapter if the voter complies with this section.

(b)A voter who casts a provisional official
ballot wholly or partly as a result of failing to present photo identification
when voting in person in accordance with G.S. 163‑166.13 may comply
with this section by appearing in person at the county board of elections and
doing one of the following:

(1)Presenting photo identification as
defined in G.S. 163‑166.13(e) that bears any reasonable resemblance
to the voter. The local election official to whom the photo identification is
presented shall determine if the photo identification bears any reasonable
resemblance to that voter. If not, that local election official shall comply
with G.S. 163‑166.14.

(2)Presenting any of the documents listed in
G.S. 163‑166.12(a)(2) and declaring that the voter has a sincerely
held religious objection to being photographed. That voter shall also be
offered an opportunity to execute a declaration under G.S. 163‑82.7A
for future elections.

(c)All identification under subsection (b)
of this section shall be presented to the county board of elections not later
than 12:00 noon the day prior to the time set for the convening of the election
canvass pursuant to G.S. 163‑182.5.

(d)If the county board of elections
determines that a voter has also cast a provisional official ballot for a cause
other than the voter's failure to provide photo identification in accordance
with G.S. 163‑166.13, the county board shall do all of the following:

(1)Note on the envelope containing the
provisional official ballot that the voter has complied with the proof of
identification requirement.

(2)Proceed to determine any other reasons
for which the provisional official ballot was cast provisionally before ruling
on the validity of the voter's provisional official ballot."

SECTION 2.9. G.S. 163‑87 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑87.
Challenges allowed on day of primary or election.

On the day of a primary or election, at the time a registered
voter offers to vote, any other registered voter of the precinct may exercise
the right of challenge, and when he the voter does so may enter the
voting enclosure to make the challenge, but he the voter shall
retire therefrom as soon as the challenge is heard.

On the day of a primary or election, any other registered
voter of the precinct may challenge a person for one or more of the following
reasons:

(4) If the challenge is made with respect to voting in
a partisan primary, that the person is a registered voter of another political
party.

(5)Except as provided in G.S. 163‑166.13(d)
and G.S. 163‑166.14, the voter does not present photo identification
in accordance with G.S. 163‑166.13.

The chief judge, judge, or assistant appointed under G.S. 163‑41
or 163‑42 may enter challenges under this section against voters in the
precinct for which appointed regardless of the place of residence of the chief
judge, judge, or assistant.

If a person is challenged under this subsection, and the
challenge is sustained under G.S. 163‑85(c)(3), the voter may still
transfer his that voter's registration under G.S. 163‑82.15(e)
if eligible under that section, and the registration shall not be cancelled
under G.S. 163‑90.2(a) if the transfer is made. A person who has
transferred his that voter's registration under G.S. 163‑82.15(e)
may be challenged at the precinct to which the registration is being
transferred."

PART 3. IMPLEMENTATION

SECTION 3.1. G.S. 20‑37.7(d) reads as
rewritten:

"(d) Expiration and Fee. – A special identification
card issued to a person for the first time under this section expires when a
drivers license issued on the same day to that person would expire. A special
identification card renewed under this section expires when a drivers license
renewed by the card holder on the same day would expire.

The fee for a special identification card is the same as the
fee set in G.S. 20‑14 for a duplicate license. The fee does not
apply to a special identification card issued to a resident of this State as
follows:

(1)whoThe applicant is legally blind,blind.

(2)The applicant is at least 70 years old,old.

(3)The applicant is homeless, has
been issued a drivers license but the drivers license is cancelled under G.S. 20‑15,
in accordance with G.S. 20‑9(e) and (g), as a result of a physical
or mental disability or disease.

(4)The applicant is homeless. To obtain
a special identification card without paying a fee, a homeless person must
present a letter to the Division from the director of a facility that provides
care or shelter to homeless persons verifying that the person is homeless.

(5)The applicant is registered to vote in
this State and does not have photo identification acceptable under G.S. 163‑166.13.
To obtain a special identification card without paying a fee, a registered
voter shall sign a declaration stating the registered voter is registered and
does not have other photo identification acceptable under G.S. 163‑166.13.
The Division shall verify that voter registration prior to issuing the special
identification card. Any declaration shall prominently include the penalty
under G.S. 163‑275(13) for falsely making the declaration.

(6)The applicant is appearing before the
Division for the purpose of registering to vote in accordance with G.S. 163‑82.19
and does not have other photo identification acceptable under G.S. 163‑166.13.
To obtain a special identification card without paying a fee, that applicant
shall sign a declaration stating that applicant is registering to vote and does
not have other photo identification acceptable under G.S. 163‑166.13.
Any declaration shall prominently include the penalty under G.S. 163‑275(13)
for falsely making the declaration."

SECTION 3.2. G.S. 130A‑93.1 is amended
by adding a new subsection to read:

"(c)Upon verification of voter
registration, the State Registrar shall not charge any fee under subsection (a)
of this section to a registered voter who signs a declaration stating the
registered voter is registered to vote in this State and does not have a
certified copy of that registered voter's birth certificate or marriage license
necessary to obtain photo identification acceptable under G.S. 163‑166.13.
Any declaration shall prominently include the penalty under G.S. 163‑275(13)
for falsely or fraudulently making the declaration."

SECTION 3.3. G.S. 161‑10(a)(8) reads
as rewritten:

"(8) Certified Copies of Birth and Death
Certificates and Marriage Licenses. – For furnishing a certified copy of a
death or birth certificate or marriage license ten dollars ($10.00). Provided
however, a Register of Deedsregister of deeds, in accordance with G.S. 130A‑93,
may issue without charge a certified Birth Certificatebirth
certificate to any person over the age of 62 years. Provided, however, upon
verification of voter registration, a register of deeds, in accordance with G.S. 130A‑93,
shall issue without charge a certified copy of a birth certificate or a
certified copy of a marriage license to any registered voter who declares the
registered voter is registered to vote in this State and does not have a
certified copy of that registered voter's birth certificate or marriage license
necessary to obtain photo identification acceptable under G.S. 163‑166.13.
Any declaration shall prominently include the penalty under G.S. 163‑275(13)
for falsely or fraudulently making the declaration."

SECTION 3.4. G.S. 163‑275(13) reads as
rewritten:

"(13) For any person falsely to make or present any
certificate or other paper to qualify any person fraudulently as a voter, or to
attempt thereby to secure to any person the privilege of voting;voting,
including declarations made under this Chapter, G.S. 20‑37.7(d)(5), 20‑37.7(d)(6),
130A‑93.1(c), and 161‑10(a)(8);"

PART 4. ABSENTEE VOTING

SECTION 4.1. G.S. 163‑229(b) reads as
rewritten:

"(b) Application on Container‑Return
Envelope. – In time for use not later than 60 days before a statewide general
election in an even‑numbered year, and not later than 50 days before a
statewide primary, other general election or county bond election, the county
board of elections shall print a sufficient number of envelopes in which
persons casting absentee ballots may transmit their marked ballots to the
county board of elections. However, in the case of municipal elections,
sufficient container‑return envelopes shall be made available no later
than 30 days before an election. Each container‑return envelope shall
have printed on it an application which shall be designed and prescribed by the
State Board of Elections, providing for all of the following:

(1)theThe voter's certification
of eligibility to vote the enclosed ballot and of having voted the enclosed
ballot in accordance with this Article,Article.

(2)aA space for identification of
the envelope with the voter,voter and the voter's signature.

(3)and aA space for the
identification of the two persons witnessing the casting of the absentee ballot
in accordance with G.S. 163‑231, those persons' signatures, and
those persons' addresses.

(4)A space for the name and address of any person
who, as permitted under G.S. 163‑226.3(a), assisted the voter if the
voter is unable to complete and sign the certification and that individual's
signature.

(5)A space for approval by the county
board of elections.

(6)The envelope shallA space to
allow reporting of a change of name as provided by G.S. 163‑82.16.

(7)A prominent display of the unlawful acts
under G.S. 163‑226.3 and G.S. 163‑275, except if there is
not room on the envelope, the State Board of Elections may provide for that
disclosure to be made on a separate piece of paper to be included along with
the container‑return envelope.

The container‑return envelope shall be printed in
accordance with the instructions of the State Board of Elections."

(a) A qualified voter who is eligible to vote by
absentee ballot under G.S. 163‑226(a)desires to vote by absentee
ballot, or that voter's near relative or verifiable legal guardian, shall complete
a request form for in writing an application for absentee
ballots,an absentee application and absentee ballots so that the
county board of elections receives the that completed request form
not later than 5:00 P.M. on the Tuesday before the election. That completed
written request form shall be signed by the voter, the voter's
near relative, or the voter's verifiable legal guardian.in compliance
with G.S. 163‑230.2. The county board of elections shall enter
in the register of absentee requests, applications, and ballots issued the
information required in G.S. 163‑228 as soon as each item of that
information becomes available. Upon receiving the application,completed
request form, the county board of elections shall cause to be mailed to
that voter in a single package:package that includes all of
the following:

(1) The official ballots the that voter
is entitled to vote;vote.

(2) A container‑return envelope for the ballots,
printed in accordance with G.S. 163‑229; andG.S. 163‑229.

(3) Repealed by Session Laws 1999‑455, s. 10.

(4) An instruction sheet.

The ballots, envelope, and instructions shall be mailed to
the voter by the county board's chairman, member, officer, or employee as
determined by the board and entered in the register as provided by this
Article.

(a1) Absence for Sickness or Physical Disability. –
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, if a voter
expects to be unable to go to the voting place to vote in person on election
day because of that voter's sickness or other physical disability, that voter
or that voter's near relative or verifiable legal guardian may make written the
request under subsection (a) of this section in person for
absentee ballots to the board of elections of the county in which the voter
is registered after 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday before the election but not later
than 5:00 p.m. on the day before the election. The county board of elections
shall treat that completed request form in the same manner as a request under
subsection (a) of this section but may personally deliver the application and
ballots to the voter or that voter's near relative or verifiable legal
guardian.enter in the register of absentee requests, applications, and
ballots issued the information required in G.S. 163‑228 as soon as
each item of that information becomes available. The county board of elections
shall personally deliver to the requester in a single package:

(1)The official ballots the voter is
entitled to vote;

(2)A container‑return envelope for the
ballots, printed in accordance with G.S. 163‑229; and

(3)An instruction sheet.

(a2) Delivery of Absentee Ballots and Container‑Return
Envelope to Applicant. – When the county board of elections receives a completed
request form for applications and absentee ballots, the board shall
promptly issue and transmit them to the voter in accordance with the following
instructions:

(1) On the top margin of each ballot the applicant is
entitled to vote, the chair, a member, officer, or employee of the board of
elections shall write or type the words "Absentee Ballot No. ____" or
an abbreviation approved by the State Board of Elections and insert in the
blank space the number assigned the applicant's application in the register of
absentee requests, applications, and ballots issued. That person shall not
write, type, or print any other matter upon the ballots transmitted to the
absentee voter. Alternatively, the board of elections may cause to be barcoded
on the ballot the voter's application number, if that barcoding system is
approved by the State Board of Elections.

(2) The chair, member, officer, or employee of the
board of elections shall fold and place the ballots (identified in accordance
with the preceding instruction) in a container‑return envelope and write
or type in the appropriate blanks thereon, in accordance with the terms of G.S. 163‑229(b),
the absentee voter's name, the absentee voter's application number, and the
designation of the precinct in which the voter is registered. If the ballot is
barcoded under this section, the envelope may be barcoded rather than having
the actual number appear. The person placing the ballots in the envelopes shall
leave the container‑return envelope holding the ballots unsealed.

(3) The chair, member, officer, or employee of the
board of elections shall then place the unsealed container‑return
envelope holding the ballots together with printed instructions for voting and
returning the ballots, in an envelope addressed to the voter at the post office
address stated in the request, seal the envelope, and mail it at the expense of
the county board of elections: Provided, that in case of a request received
after 5:00 p.m. on the Tuesday before the election under the provisions of
subsection (a1) of this section, in lieu of transmitting the ballots to the
voter in person or by mail, the chair, member, officer, or employee of the
board of elections may deliver the sealed envelope containing the instruction
sheet and the container‑return envelope holding the ballots to a near
relative or verifiable legal guardian of the voter.

The county board of elections may receive completed written
requestsrequest forms for applications at any time prior to the
election but shall not mail applications and ballots to the voter or issue
applications and ballots in person earlier than 60 days prior to the statewide
general election in an even‑numbered year, or earlier than 50 days prior
to any other election, except as provided in G.S. 163‑227.2. No
election official shall issue applications for absentee ballots except in
compliance with this Article.

(b) The application shall be completed and signed by
the voter personally, the ballots marked, the ballots sealed in the container‑return
envelope, and the certificate completed as provided in G.S. 163‑231.

(c) At its next official meeting after return of the
completed container‑return envelope with the voter's ballots, the county
board of elections shall determine whether the container‑return envelope
has been properly executed. If the board determines that the container‑return
envelope has been properly executed, it shall approve the application and
deposit the container‑return envelope with other container‑return
envelopes for the envelope to be opened and the ballots counted at the same
time as all other container‑return envelopes and absentee ballots.

(c1) Required Meeting of County Board of Elections. –
During the period commencing on the third Tuesday before an election, in which
absentee ballots are authorized, the county board of elections shall hold one
or more public meetings each Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. for the purpose of action on
applications for absentee ballots. At these meetings, the county board of
elections shall pass upon applications for absentee ballots.

If the county board of elections changes the time of holding
its meetings or provides for additional meetings in accordance with the terms
of this subsection, notice of the change in hour and notice of the schedule of
additional meetings, if any, shall be published in a newspaper circulated in
the county at least 30 days prior to the election.

At the time the county board of elections makes its decision
on an application for absentee ballots, the board shall enter in the
appropriate column in the register of absentee requests, applications, and
ballots issued opposite the name of the applicant a notation of whether the
applicant's application was "Approved" or "Disapproved".

The decision of the board on the validity of an application
for absentee ballots shall be final subject only to such review as may be
necessary in the event of an election contest. The county board of elections
shall constitute the proper official body to pass upon the validity of all
applications for absentee ballots received in the county; this function shall
not be performed by the chairman or any other member of the board individually.

(d) Repealed by Session Laws 1999‑455, s. 10.

(e) The State Board of Elections, by rule or by
instruction to the county board of elections, shall establish procedures to
provide appropriate safeguards in the implementation of this section.

(a) Valid Types of Written Requests. – A completed written
request form for an absentee ballot as required by G.S. 163‑230.1
is valid only if it is written entirely by the requester personally, or is
on a form generated created by the county board of elections State
Board and signed by the requester. voter requesting absentee ballots
or that voter's near relative or verifiable legal guardian. The county
board of elections shall issue a request form only to the voter seeking to vote
by absentee ballot or to a person authorized by G.S. 163‑230.1 to
make a request for the voter. If a requester, due to disability or illiteracy,
is unable to complete a written request, that requester may receive assistance
in writing that request from an individual of that requester's choice.The
State Board shall make the form available at its offices, online, and in each
county board of elections office, and that form may be reproduced. A voter may
make a request in person or by writing to the county board for the form to
request an absentee ballot. The request form for an absentee ballot shall
require at least the following information:

(1)The name and address of the residence of
the voter.

(2)The name and address of the voter's near
relative or verifiable legal guardian if that individual is making the request.

(3)The address of the voter to which the
application and absentee ballots are to be mailed if different from the
residence address of the voter.

(4)One or more of the following in the order
of preference:

a.The number of the voter's North Carolina
drivers license issued under Article 2 of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes,
including a learner's permit or a provisional license.

b.The number of the voter's special
identification card for nonoperators issued under G.S. 20‑37.7.

c.The last four digits of the applicant's
social security number.

(5)The voter's date of birth.

(6)The signature of the voter or of the
voter's near relative or verifiable legal guardian if that individual is making
the request.

(a1)A completed request form for an absentee
ballot shall be deemed a request to update the official record of voter registration
for that voter and shall be confirmed in writing in accordance with G.S. 163‑82.14(d).

(a2)The completed request form for an
absentee ballot shall be delivered to the county board of elections. If the
voter does not include the information requested in subdivision (a)(4) of this
section, a copy of a document listed in G.S. 163‑166.12(a)(2) shall
accompany the completed request form.

(a3)Upon receiving a completed request form for
an absentee ballot, the county board shall confirm that voter's registration.
If that voter is confirmed as a registered voter of the county, the absentee
ballots and certification form shall be mailed to the voter, unless personally
delivered in accordance with G.S. 163‑230.1(a1). If the voter's
official record of voter registration conflicts with the completed request form
for an absentee ballot or cannot be confirmed, the voter shall be so notified.
If the county board cannot resolve the differences, no application or absentee
ballots shall be issued.

(b) Invalid Types of Written Requests. – A request is
not valid if it does not comply with subsection (a) of this section. If a
county board of elections receives a request for an absentee ballot that does
not comply with subsection (a) of this section, the board shall not issue an
application and ballot under G.S. 163‑230.1.

(c) Rules by State Board. – The State Board of
Elections shall adopt rules for the enforcement of this section."

SECTION 4.4. G.S. 163‑231 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑231.
Voting absentee ballots and transmitting them to the county board of elections.

(a) Procedure for Voting Absentee Ballots. – In the
presence of a persontwo persons who is are at least
18 years of age, and who isare not disqualified by G.S. 163‑226.3(a)(4)
or G.S. 163‑237(b1), the voter shall:shall do all of the
following:

(1) Mark the voter's ballots, or cause them to be
marked by that person in the voter's presence according to the voter's instruction;instruction.

(2) Fold each ballot separately, or cause each of them
to be folded in the voter's presence;presence.

(3) Place the folded ballots in the container‑return
envelope and securely seal it, or have this done in the voter's presence;presence.

(4) Make the application printed on the container‑return
envelope according to the provisions of G.S. 163‑229(b) and make the
certificate printed on the container‑return envelope according to the
provisions of G.S. 163‑229(b).

(5)Require those two persons in whose
presence the voter marked that voter's ballots to sign the application and
certificate as witnesses and to indicate those persons' addresses.

Alternatively to the prior paragraph of this subsection,
any requirement for two witnesses shall be satisfied if witnessed by one notary
public, who shall comply with all the other requirements of that paragraph. The
notary shall affix a valid notarial seal to the envelope, and include the word "Notary
Public" below his or her signature.

The person persons in whose presence the ballot
is marked shall at all times respect the secrecy of the ballot and the privacy
of the absentee voter, unless the voter requests the person's assistance
and the that person is otherwise authorized by law to give
assistance. The person in whose presence the ballot was marked shall sign
the application and certificate as a witness and shall indicate that person's
address. When thus executed, the sealed container‑return envelope,
with the ballots enclosed, shall be transmitted in accordance with the
provisions of subsection (b) of this section to the county board of elections
which issued the ballots.

(a1) Repealed by Session Laws 1987, c. 583, s. 1.

(b) Transmitting Executed Absentee Ballots to County
Board of Elections. – The sealed container‑return envelope in which
executed absentee ballots have been placed shall be transmitted to the county
board of elections who issued them those ballots as follows:

(1) All ballots issued under the provisions of Articles
20this Article and Article 21A of this Chapter shall be
transmitted by mail or by commercial courier service, at the voter's expense,
or delivered in person, or by the voter's near relative or verifiable legal
guardian and received by the county board not later than 5:00 p.m. on
the day before of the statewide primary or general election or
county bond election. Ballots issued under the provisions of Article 21A of
this Chapter may also be electronically transmitted.

(2) If ballots are received later than that
hour,the hour stated in subdivision (1) of this subsection,theythose
ballots shall not be accepted unless one of the following applies:

a.(i)federal Federal law so requires,requires.

b.(ii)if The ballots issued
under this Article 20 of this Chapter are postmarked and that
postmark is dated on or beforeby the day of the statewide primary or
general election or county bond election and are received by the county board
of elections not later than three days after the election by 5:00 p.m., or 5:00
p.m.

c.(iii)if The ballots issued
under Article 21A of this Chapter are received by the county board of elections
not later than the end of business on the business day before the canvass
conducted by the county board of elections held pursuant to G.S. 163‑182.5.
Ballots issued under Article 20 of this Chapter not postmarked by the day of
the election shall not be accepted by the county board of elections.

(c)For purposes of this section, "Delivered
in person" includes delivering the ballot to an election official at a one‑stop
voting site under G.S. 163‑227.2 during any time that site is open
for voting. The ballots shall be kept securely and delivered by election
officials at that site to the county board of elections office for processing."

SECTION 4.5. G.S. 163‑226 is amended
by adding a new subsection to read:

"(d)The Term "Verifiable Legal
Guardian." – An individual appointed guardian under Chapter 35A of the
General Statutes. For a corporation appointed as a guardian under that Chapter,
the corporation may submit a list of 10 named individuals to the State Board of
Elections who may act for that corporation under this Article."

SECTION 4.6.(a) G.S. 163‑226.3(a)(4)
reads as rewritten:

"(a) Any person who shall, in connection with
absentee voting in any election held in this State, do any of the acts or
things declared in this section to be unlawful, shall be guilty of a Class I
felony. It shall be unlawful:

…

(4) For any owner, manager, director, employee, or
other person, other than the voter's near relative or verifiable legal
guardian, to (i) make a written request pursuant to G.S. 163‑230.1
or (ii) sign an application or certificate as a witness, on
behalf of a registered voter voter, who is a patient in any
hospital, clinic, nursing home or rest home in this State or for any owner,
manager, director, employee, or other person other than the voter's near
relative or verifiable legal guardian, to mark the voter's absentee ballot or
assist such a voter in marking an absentee ballot. This subdivision does not
apply to members, employees, or volunteers of the county board of elections, if
those members, employees, or volunteers are working as part of a multipartisan
team trained and authorized by the county board of elections to assist voters
with absentee ballots. Each county board of elections shall train and authorize
such teams, pursuant to procedures which shall be adopted by the State Board of
Elections. If neither the voter's near relative nor a verifiable legal
guardian is available to assist the voter, and a multipartisan team is not
available to assist the voter within seven calendar days of a telephonic
request to the county board of elections, the voter may obtain such assistance
from any person other than (i) an owner, manager, director, employee of the
hospital, clinic, nursing home, or rest home in which the voter is a patient or
resident; (ii) an individual who holds any elective office under the United
States, this State, or any political subdivision of this State; (iii) an
individual who is a candidate for nomination or election to such office; or (iv)
an individual who holds any office in a State, congressional district, county,
or precinct political party or organization, or who is a campaign manager or
treasurer for any candidate or political party; provided that a delegate to a
convention shall not be considered a party office. None of the persons listed
in (i) through (iv) of this subdivision may sign the application or certificate
as a witness for the patient.

…."

SECTION 4.6.(b) The State Board of Elections
shall adopt rules prior to October 1, 2013, concerning the multipartisan teams
authorized by G.S. 163‑226.3(a)(4), as amended by subsection (a) of
this section, to ensure that each county has, no later than the day absentee
voting begins for each primary and election, trained teams to promptly assist
patients and residents of any hospital, clinic, nursing home, or rest home in
that county in casting absentee ballots as provided by law. Such rules shall be
initially established as temporary rules in accordance with Chapter 150B of the
General Statutes.

SECTION 4.7. G.S. 10B‑30 is amended by
adding a new subsection to read:

"(d)A notary may not charge any fee for
witnessing and affixing a notarial seal to an absentee ballot application or
certificate under G.S. 163‑231."

PART 5. REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION

SECTION 5.1. G.S. 163‑82.22 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑82.22.
Voter registration at public libraries.public libraries and public
agencies.

(a) Every library covered by G.S. 153A‑272
shall make available to the public the application forms described in G.S. 163‑82.3,
and shall keep a sufficient supply of the forms so that they are always
available. Every library covered by G.S. 153A‑272 shall designate at
least one employee to assist voter registration applicants in completing the
form during all times that the library is open.

(b)If approved by the State Board of
Elections, the county board of elections, and the county board of
commissioners, a county may offer voter registration in accordance with this
section through the following additional public offices:

(1)Senior centers or facilities operated by
the county.

(2)Parks and recreation services operated by
the county."

SECTION 5.2. The State Board of Elections shall
disseminate information about photo identification requirements for voting,
provide information on how to obtain photo identification appropriate for
voting, and assist any registered voter without photo identification
appropriate for voting with obtaining such photo identification. Information
may be distributed through public service announcements, print, radio,
television, online, and social media. The State Board shall work with public
agencies, private partners, and nonprofits to identify voters without photo
identification appropriate for voting and assist those voters in securing the
photo identification appropriate for voting. All outreach efforts to notify
voters of the photo identification requirements shall be accessible to the
elderly and persons with disabilities. The State Board of Elections shall work
with county boards of elections in those counties where there is no Division of
Motor Vehicles drivers license office open five days a week to (i) widely
communicate information about the availability and schedules of Division of
Motor Vehicles mobile units and (ii) provide volunteers to assist voters with
obtaining photo identification through mobile units.

SECTION 5.3. Education and Publicity
Requirements. – The public shall be educated about the photo identification to
vote requirements of this act as follows:

(1) As counties use their regular processes to notify
voters of assignments and reassignments to districts for election to the United
States House of Representatives, State Senate, State House of Representatives,
or local office, by including information about the provisions of this act.

(2) As counties send new voter registration cards to
voters as a result of new registration, changes of address, or other reasons,
by including information about the provisions of this act.

(3) Counties that maintain a board of elections Web
site shall include information about the provisions of this act.

(4) Notices of elections published by county boards of
elections under G.S. 163‑22(8) for the 2014 primary and 2014 general
election shall include a brief statement that photo identification will be
required to vote in person beginning in 2016.

(5) The State Board of Elections shall include on its
Web site information about the provisions of this act.

(6) Counties shall post at the polls and at early
voting sites beginning with the 2014 primary elections information about the
provisions of this act.

(7) The State Board of Elections shall distribute
information about the photo identification requirements to groups and
organizations serving persons with disabilities or the elderly.

(8) The State Board of Elections, the Division of Motor
Vehicles, and county boards of elections in counties where there is no Division
of Motor Vehicles drivers license office open five days a week shall include
information about mobile unit schedules on existing Web sites, shall distribute
information about these schedules to registered voters identified without photo
identification, and shall publicize information about the mobile unit schedules
through other available means.

(9) The State Board of Elections and county boards of
elections shall direct volunteers to assist registered voters in counties where
there is no Division of Motor Vehicles drivers license office open five days a
week.

SECTION 5.4. The State Board of Elections shall
include in all forms prepared by the Board a prominent statement that
submitting fraudulently or falsely completed declarations is a Class I felony
under Chapter 163 of the General Statutes.

SECTION 5.5. By April 1, 2014, the State Board of
Elections shall review and make recommendations to the Joint Legislative
Elections Oversight Committee on the steps recommended by the Board to
implement the use of electronic and digital information in all polling places
statewide. The review shall address all of the following:

(1) Obtaining digital photographs of registered voters
and verifying identity of those voters.

(4) Using electronic pollbooks to assist in identifying
individuals attempting to vote more than once in an election.

(5) A proposed plan for a pilot project to implement
electronic pollbooks, including the taking of digital photographs at the
polling place to supplement the electronic pollbooks.

(6) Any other related matter identified by the State
Board impacting the use of digital and electronic information in the voting
place.

PART 6. EFFECTIVE DATE

SECTION 6.2. Parts 1 through 6 of this act become
effective as follows:

(1) Parts 1 and 6 of this act are effective when this
act becomes law.

(2) Part 2 of this act becomes effective January 1,
2016, and applies to primaries and elections conducted on or after that date.

(3) Part 3 of this act becomes effective January 1,
2014.

(4) Part 4 of this act becomes effective January 1,
2014, and applies to primaries and elections held on or after that date, except
that Section 4.6(b) is effective when it becomes law.

(5) Part 5 of this act becomes effective October 1,
2013.

(6) At any primary and election between May 1, 2014,
and January 1, 2016, any registered voter may present that voter's photo
identification to the elections officials at the voting place but may not be
required to do so. At each primary and election between May 1, 2014, and January
1, 2016, each voter presenting in person shall be notified that photo
identification will be needed to vote beginning in 2016 and be asked if that
voter has one of the forms of photo identification appropriate for voting. If
that voter indicates he or she does not have one or more of the types of photo
identification appropriate for voting, that voter shall be asked to sign an
acknowledgment of the photo identification requirement and be given a list of
types of photo identification appropriate for voting and information on how to
obtain those types of photo identification. The list of names of those voters
who signed an acknowledgment is a public record.

PART 7. STUDY FILLING OF VACANCIES IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SECTION 7.1 The Joint Legislative Elections
Oversight Committee shall study the method of filling vacancies in the General
Assembly, and recommend to the General Assembly any legislation it deems
advisable. It may make an interim report prior to the date that the General
Assembly reconvenes the 2013 Regular Session in 2014, and shall make a final
report before the convening of the 2015 Regular Session of the General
Assembly.

PART 8. FILLING OF VACANCIES IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE

SECTION 8.1. G.S. 163‑12 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑12.
Filling vacancy in United States Senate.

Whenever there shall be a vacancy in the office of United
States Senator from this State, whether caused by death, resignation, or
otherwise than by expiration of term, the Governor shall appoint to fill the
vacancy until an election shall be held to fill the office. If the Senator
was elected as the nominee of a political party, the person appointed by the
Governor shall be a person affiliated with that same political party. The
Governor shall issue his a writ for the election of a Senator to
be held at the time of the first election for members of the General Assembly
that is held more than 60 days after the vacancy occurs. The person elected
shall hold the office for the remainder of the unexpired term. The election shall
take effect from the date of the canvassing of the returns."

PART 9. FILLING OF VACANCIES IN UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES

SECTION 9.1. The Joint Legislative Elections
Oversight Committee shall study the method of filling vacancies in the United
States House of Representatives by special election, and recommend to the
General Assembly any legislation it deems advisable. It may make an interim
report prior to the date that the General Assembly reconvenes the 2013 Regular
Session in 2014, and shall make a final report before the convening of the 2015
Regular Session of the General Assembly.

PART 10. SPECIAL ELECTION DATES

SECTION 10.1. G.S. 163‑287 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑287.
Special elections; procedure for calling.

(a) Any municipality county,
municipality, or any special district shall have authority to call special
elections as permitted by law. Prior to calling a special election, the city
council or the governing body of the county, municipality, or special
district shall adopt a resolution specifying the details of the election, and
forthwith deliver the resolution to the appropriatelocal board of
elections. The resolution shall call on the local board of elections to
conduct the election described in the resolution and shall state the date on
which the special election is to be conducted. The special election may be held
only at the same time as any other State, county or municipal primary,
election or special election or referendum, but may not otherwise be held
within the period of time beginning 30 days before and ending 30 days after the
date of any other primary, election, special election or referendum held for
that city or special district.general election or at the same time as
the primary election in any even‑numbered year.

(b) Legal notice of the special election shall
be published no less than 45 days prior to the special election. The local board
of elections shall be responsible for publishing the legal notice. The notice
shall state the date and time of the special election, the issue to be
submitted to the voters, and the precincts in which the election will be held.
This paragraph subsection shall not apply to bond elections.

(c)The last sentence of subsection (a) of
this section shall not apply to any special election related to the public health
or safety, including a vacancy in the office of sheriff or a bond referendum
for financing of health and sanitation systems, if the governing body adopts a
resolution stating the need for the special election at a time different from
any other State, county, or municipal general election or the primary in any
even‑numbered year.

(d)The last sentence of subsection (a) of
this section shall not apply to municipal incorporation or recall elections
pursuant to local act of the General Assembly.

(e)The last sentence of subsection (a) of
this section shall not apply to municipal elections to fill vacancies in office
pursuant to local act of the General Assembly where more than six months remain
in the term of office, and if less than six months remain in the office, the
governing board may fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term
notwithstanding any provision of a local act of the General Assembly.

(f)This section shall not impact the
authority of the courts or the State Board to order a new election at a time
set by the courts or State Board under this Chapter."

SECTION 10.2. Article 1 of Chapter 163 of the
General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 163‑3.
Special elections.

Special elections shall be called as permitted by law and
conducted in accordance with G.S. 163‑287."

SECTION 10.3. G.S. 18B‑601(f) reads as
rewritten:

"(f) Election Date. – The board of elections shall
conduct and set the date for the alcoholic beverage election, which
may not be sooner than 60 days nor later than 120 days from the date the
request was received from the governing body or the petition was verified by
the board.election in accordance with G.S. 163‑287. No
alcoholic beverage election may be held on the Tuesday next after the first
Monday in November of an even‑numbered year."

SECTION 10.4. G.S. 63‑80(c) reads as
rewritten:

"(c) Following the joint public hearing but prior
to the adoption by a unit of local government of any resolution creating a
special airport district, the governing body of such unit may submit the
question of the unit's participation in a special airport district to the
qualified voters of such unit. The form of the question as stated on the ballot
shall be in substantially the following words:

"Shall the governing body of _______________________
approve ______________'s participation in the proposed _____________________
special airport district?

[ ] YES [ ] NO"

If a majority of the qualified voters of the unit who vote
thereon approve such participation, the governing body of such unit may adopt a
resolution creating the particular special airport district. The election shall
be conducted in accordance with G.S. 163‑287 and the results
thereof certified, declared and published in the same manner as bond elections
within the unit."

SECTION 10.5. G.S. 63‑87 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 63‑87.
Bond elections.

Elections for the purpose of authorizing the levy of taxes
for the issuance of bonds shall be called by the district board and shall be
conducted in accordance with G.S. 163‑287 and the results
canvassed by the boards of elections having jurisdiction within the
participating units. Such results shall be certified to the district board and
such board shall certify and declare the result of the election and publish a
statement of the result once as provided in the Local Government Bond Act."

SECTION 10.6. G.S. 69‑25.1 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 69‑25.1.
Election to be held upon petition of voters.

Upon the petition of thirty‑five percent (35%) of the
resident freeholders living in an area lying outside the corporate limits of
any city or town, which area is described in the petition and designated as "________________________
Fire District," the board of county
(Here insert name)

commissioners of the county shall call an a special election
in said district for the purpose of submitting to the qualified voters therein
the question of levying and collecting a special tax on all taxable property in
said district, of not exceeding fifteen cents (15¢) on the one hundred dollars
($100.00) valuation of property, for the purpose of providing fire protection
in said district. The county tax office shall be responsible for checking the
freeholder status of those individuals signing the petition and confirming the
location of the property owned by those individuals. Unless specifically
excluded by other law, the provisions of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes
concerning petitions for referenda and special elections shall apply. If
the voters reject the special tax under the first paragraph of this section,
then no new election may be held under the first paragraph of this section
within two years on the question of levying and collecting a special tax under
the first paragraph of this section in that district, or in any proposed
district which includes a majority of the land within the district in which the
tax was rejected.

Upon the petition of thirty‑five percent (35%) of the
resident freeholders living in an area which has previously been established as
a fire protection district and in which there has been authorized by a vote of
the people a special tax not exceeding ten cents (10¢) on the one hundred
dollars ($100.00) valuation of property within the area, the board of county
commissioners shall call an a special election in said area for
the purpose of submitting to the qualified voters therein the question of
increasing the allowable special tax for fire protection within said district
from ten cents (10¢) on the one hundred dollars ($100.00) valuation to fifteen
cents (15¢) on the one hundred dollars ($100.00) valuation on all taxable
property within such district. Elections Special elections on the
question of increasing the allowable tax rate for fire protection shall not be
held within the same district at intervals less than two years."

SECTION 10.7. G.S. 69‑25.2 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 69‑25.2.
Duties of county board of commissioners regarding conduct of elections; cost of
holding.

The board of county commissioners, after consulting with the
county board of elections, shall set a date for the special election in
accordance with G.S. 163‑287 by resolution adopted. The county
board of elections shall hold and conduct the election in the district. The
county board of elections shall advertise and conduct said election, in
accordance with the provisions of this Article and with the procedures
prescribed in Chapter 163 governing the conduct of special and general
elections. No new registration of voters shall be required, but the deadline
by which unregistered voters must register shall be contained in the legal
advertisement to be published by the county board of elections. The cost of
holding the election to establish a district shall be paid by the county,
provided that if the district is established, then the county shall be
reimbursed the cost of the election from the taxes levied within the district,
but the cost of an election to increase the allowable tax under G.S. 69‑25.1
or to abolish a fire district under G.S. 69‑25.10 shall be paid from
the funds of the district."

SECTION 10.8. G.S. 105‑465 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 105‑465.
County election as to adoption of local sales and use tax.

The board of elections of any county, upon the written
request of the board of county commissioners, or upon receipt of a petition
signed by qualified voters of the county equal in number to at least fifteen
percent (15%) of the total number of votes cast in the county, at the last
preceding election for the office of Governor, shall call a special election
for the purpose of submitting to the voters of the county the question of
whether a one percent (1%) sales and use tax will be levied.

The special election shall be held under the same rules
applicable to the election of members of the General Assembly. No new
registration of voters shall be required. All qualified voters in the county
who are properly registered not later than 21 days (excluding Saturdays and
Sundays) prior to the election shall be entitled to vote at the election. The
county board of elections shall give at least 20 days' public notice prior to
the closing of the registration books for the special election.

The county board of elections shall prepare ballots for the
special election. The question presented on the ballot shall be "FOR one
percent (1%) local sales and use tax on items subject to State sales and use
tax at the general State rate and on food" or "AGAINST one percent
(1%) local sales and use tax on items subject to State sales and use tax at the
general State rate and on food".

The county board of elections shall fix the date of the
special election, election on a date permitted by G.S. 163‑287,
except that the special election shall not be held on the date or within
60 days of any biennial election for county officers, nor within one year
from the date of the last preceding special election under this section."

SECTION 10.9. G.S. 105‑473(a) reads as
rewritten:

"(a) The board of elections of any county, upon
the written request of the board of county commissioners thereof, or upon
receipt of a petition signed by qualified voters of the county equal in number
to at least fifteen percent (15%) of the total number of votes cast in the
county at the last preceding election for the office of Governor, shall call a
special election for the purpose of submitting to the voters of the county the
question of whether the levy of a one percent (1%) sales and use tax
theretofore levied should be repealed.

The special election shall be held under the same rules and
regulations applicable to the election of members of the General Assembly. No
new registration of voters shall be required. All qualified voters in the
county who are properly registered not later than 21 days (excluding Saturdays
and Sundays) prior to the election shall be entitled to vote at said election.
The county board of elections shall give at least 20 days' public notice prior
to the closing of the registration books for the special election.

The county board of elections shall prepare ballots for the
special election which shall contain the words "FOR repeal of the one
percent (1%) local sales and use tax levy," and the words "AGAINST
repeal of the one percent (1%) local sales and use tax levy," with
appropriate squares so that each voter may designate his vote by his cross (X)
mark.

The county board of elections shall fix the date of the
special election; election on a date permitted by G.S. 163‑287;
provided, however, that the special election shall not be held on the
day of any biennial election for county officers, nor within 60 days thereof,
nor within one year from the date of the last preceding special election
held under this section."

SECTION 10.10. G.S. 105‑507.1(a) reads
as rewritten:

"(a) Resolution. – The board of commissioners of a
county may direct the county board of elections to conduct an advisory
referendum within the county on the question of whether a local sales and use
tax at the rate of one‑half percent (1/2%) may be levied in accordance
with this Part. The election shall be held on a date jointly agreed upon by
the boards and shall be held in accordance with the procedures of G.S. 163‑287.
The board of commissioners shall hold a public hearing on the question at least
30 days before the date the election is to be held."

SECTION 10.11. G.S. 105‑509(b) reads
as rewritten:

"(b) Resolution. – The board of trustees of the
regional public transportation authority may, if all of the conditions listed
in this subsection have been met, direct the respective county board or boards
of elections to conduct an advisory referendum within the special district on
the question of whether a local sales and use tax at the rate of one‑half
percent (1/2%) may be levied within the district in accordance with this Part.
The tax may not be levied without voter approval. The election shall be held on
a date jointly agreed upon by the authority, the county board or boards of
commissioners, and the county board or boards of elections and shall be held
on a date permitted by and in accordance with the procedures of G.S. 163‑287.
An election to authorize the levy of a tax under this Part may be held only
on one of the following dates: (i) Tuesday after the first Monday of November
in the even‑numbered year, the date of the general election under G.S. 163‑1,
(ii) the date of the primary election in the even‑numbered year under G.S. 163‑1(b),
(iii) Tuesday after the first Monday in November of the odd‑numbered
year, or (iv) a date in September or October of the odd‑numbered year as
listed in G.S. 163‑279(a)(2), (3), or (4) but only if at least one
municipality in the county is holding a primary or election on that date.The
conditions are as follows:

(1) The board of trustees has obtained approval to
conduct a referendum by a vote of the following:

a. A majority vote of each of the county boards of
commissioners within the special district, if it is a multicounty special
district.

b. A majority of the county board of commissioners
within the special district, if it is a single‑county special district.

(2) A public hearing is held on the question by the
board or boards of commissioners at least 30 days before the date the election
is to be held."

SECTION 10.12. G.S. 105‑510(b) reads
as rewritten:

"(b) Resolution. – The board of trustees of the
regional transportation authority may, if all of the conditions listed in this
subsection have been met, direct the respective county board or boards of
elections to conduct an advisory referendum within the special district on the
question of whether a local sales and use tax at the rate of one‑half
percent (1/2%) may be levied within the district in accordance with this Part.
The tax may not be levied without voter approval. The election shall be held on
a date jointly agreed upon by the authority, the county board or boards of
commissioners, and the county board or boards of elections and shall be held on
a date permitted by and in accordance with the procedures of G.S. 163‑287.
An election to authorize the levy of a tax under this Part may be held only
on one of the following dates: (i) Tuesday after the first Monday of November
in the even‑numbered year, the date of the general election under G.S. 163‑1,
(ii) the date of the primary election in the even‑numbered year under G.S. 163‑1(b),
(iii) Tuesday after the first Monday in November of the odd‑numbered
year, or (iv) a date in September or October of the odd‑numbered year as
listed in G.S. 163‑279(a)(2), (3), or (4) but only if at least one
municipality in the county is holding a primary or election on that date. The
conditions are as follows:

(1) The board of trustees has obtained approval to
conduct a referendum by a vote of the following:

a. A majority vote of both of the county boards of
commissioners within the special district, if it is a multicounty special
district.

b. A majority of the county board of commissioners
within the special district, if it is a single‑county special district.

(2) A public hearing is held on the question by the
board or boards of commissioners at least 30 days before the date the election
is to be held."

SECTION 10.13. G.S. 105‑511.2(a) reads
as rewritten:

"(a) Resolution. – The board of commissioners of a
county may direct the county board of elections to conduct an advisory
referendum within the county on the question of whether a local sales and use
tax at the rate of one‑quarter percent (1/4%) may be levied in accordance
with this Part. The election shall be held on a date jointly agreed upon by the
boards and shall be held on a date permitted by and in accordance with
the procedures of G.S. 163‑287. An election to authorize the levy
of a tax under this Part may be held only on one of the following dates: (i)
Tuesday after the first Monday of November in the even‑numbered year, the
date of the general election under G.S. 163‑1, (ii) the date of the
primary election in the even‑numbered year under G.S. 163‑1(b),
(iii) Tuesday after the first Monday in November of the odd‑numbered
year, or (iv) a date in September or October of the odd‑numbered year as
listed in G.S. 163‑279(a)(2), (3), or (4) but only if at least one
municipality in the county is holding a primary or election on that date. The
board of commissioners shall hold a public hearing on the question at least 30
days before the date the election is to be held."

SECTION 10.14. G.S. 105‑537(b) reads
as rewritten:

"(b) Vote. – The board of county commissioners may
direct the county board of elections to conduct an advisory referendum on the
question of whether to levy a local sales and use tax in the county as provided
in this Article. The election shall be held on a date jointly agreed upon by
the board of county commissioners and the board of elections and shall be held in
accordance with the procedures of G.S. 163‑287."

SECTION 10.15. G.S. 106‑343 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 106‑343.
Appropriations by counties; elections.

The several boards of county commissioners in the State are
hereby expressly authorized and empowered to make such appropriations from the
general funds of their county as will enable them to cooperate effectively with
the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Federal
Department of Agriculture in the eradication of tuberculosis in their
respective counties: Provided, that if in 10 days after said appropriation is
voted, one fifth of the qualified voters of the county petition the board of
commissioners to submit the question of tuberculosis eradication or no
tuberculosis eradication to the voters of the county, said commissioners shall
submit such questions to said voters. Said election shall be held and conducted
under the rules and regulations provided for holding stock‑law
elections in G.S. 68‑16, 68‑20 and 68‑21.G.S. 163‑287.
If at any such election a majority of the votes cast shall be in favor of said
tuberculosis eradication, the said board shall record the result of the
election upon its minutes, and cooperative tuberculosis eradication shall be
taken up with the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and
Federal Department of Agriculture. If, however, a majority of the votes cast
shall be adverse, then said board shall make no appropriation."

SECTION 10.16. G.S. 115C‑501(h) reads
as rewritten:

"(h) To Annex or Consolidate Areas or Districts
from Contiguous Counties and to Provide a Supplemental School Tax in Such
Annexed Areas or Consolidated Districts. – An election may be called in any
districts or other school areas, from contiguous counties, as to whether the
districts in one county shall be enlarged by annexing or consolidating
therewith any adjoining districts, or other school area or areas from an
adjoining county, and if a special or supplemental school tax is levied and
collected in the districts of the county to which the territory is to be
annexed or consolidated, whether upon such annexation or consolidation there
shall be levied and collected in the territory to be annexed or consolidated
the same special or supplemental tax for schools as is levied and collected in
the districts in the other county. If such election carries, the said special
or supplemental tax shall be collected pursuant to G.S. 115C‑511 and
remitted to the local school administrative unit on whose behalf such special
and supplemental tax is already levied: Provided, that notwithstanding the
provisions of G.S. 115C‑508, if the notice of election clearly so
states, and the election shall be held prior to August 1, the annexation or
consolidation shall be effective and the tax so authorized shall be levied and
collected beginning with the fiscal year commencing July 1 next preceding such
elections.levied."

SECTION 10.17. G.S. 115C‑501 is
amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(j)All elections called under this
section shall be conducted in accordance with G.S. 163‑287."

SECTION 10.18. G.S. 115D‑33(d) reads as rewritten:

"(d) All elections shall be held in the same manner
as elections held under Article 4, Chapter 159, of the General Statutes, the
Local Government Bond Act, and may be held at any time fixed by the tax‑levying
authority of the administrative area or proposed administrative area of the
institution for which such election is to be held.shall be held on a
date permitted by G.S. 163‑287."

SECTION 10.19. G.S. 115D‑35(a) reads
as rewritten:

"(a) Formal requests for elections on the question
of authority to appropriate nontax revenues or levy special taxes, or both, and
to issue bonds, when such elections are to be held for the purpose of
establishing an institution, shall be originated and submitted only in the
following manner:

(1) Proposed multiple‑county administrative
areas: Formal requests for elections may be submitted jointly by all county
boards of education in the proposed administrative area, or by petition of
fifteen percent (15%) of the number of qualified voters of the proposed area
who voted in the last preceding election for Governor, to the boards of
commissioners of all counties in the proposed area, who may shall fix
the time for such election by joint resolution on a date permitted by G.S. 163‑287,
which shall be entered in the minutes of each board.

(2) Proposed single‑county administrative area:
Formal requests shall be submitted by the board of education of any public
school administrative unit within the county of the proposed administrative
area or by petition of fifteen percent (15%) of the number of qualified voters
of the county who voted in the last preceding election for Governor, to the
board of commissioners of the county of the proposed administrative area, who may
shall fix the time for such election by resolution on a date
permitted by G.S. 163‑287, which shall be entered in the minutes
of the board."

SECTION 10.20. G.S. 130A‑69 reads as
rewritten:

"(a) If after a sanitary district has been created
or the provisions of this Part have been made applicable to a sanitary
district, a petition signed by not less than fifteen percent (15%) of the
resident freeholders within any territory contiguous to and adjoining the
sanitary district may be presented to the sanitary district board requesting
annexation of territory described in the petition. The sanitary district board
shall send a copy of the petition to the board of commissioners of the county
or counties in which the district is located and to the Department. The
sanitary district board shall request that the Department hold a joint public
hearing with the sanitary district board on the question of annexation. The
Secretary and the chairperson of the sanitary district board shall name a time
and place for the public hearing. The chairperson of the sanitary district
board shall publish a notice of public hearing once in a newspaper or
newspapers published or circulating in the sanitary district and the territory
proposed to be annexed. The notice shall be published not less than 15 days
prior to the hearing. If after the hearing, the Commission approves the
annexation of the territory described in the petition, the Department shall
advise the board or boards of commissioners of the approval. The board or
boards of commissioners shall order and provide for the holding of a special
election in accordance with G.S. 163‑287 upon the question of
annexation within the territory proposed to be annexed.

(b) If at or prior to the public hearing, a petition
is filed with the sanitary district board signed by not less than fifteen
percent (15%) of the freeholders residing in the sanitary district requesting
an election be held on the annexation question, the sanitary district board
shall send a copy of the petition to the board or boards of commissioners who
shall order and provide for the submission of the question to the voters within
the sanitary district. This election may be held on the same day as the
election in the territory proposed to be annexed, and both elections and
registrations may be held pursuant to a single notice. A majority of the votes
cast is necessary for a territory to be annexed to a sanitary district.

(c) The election shall be held by the county board or
boards of elections as soon as possiblein accordance with G.S. 163‑287
after the board or boards of commissioners orders the election. The cost of the
election shall be paid by the sanitary district. Registration in the area
proposed for annexation shall be under the same procedure as G.S. 163‑288.2.

…."

SECTION 10.21. G.S. 139‑39 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 139‑39.
Alternative method of financing watershed improvement programs by special
county tax.

The board of county commissioners in any county is authorized
to call a special election to determine whether it be the will of the qualified
voters of the county that they levy and cause to be collected annually, at the
same time and in the same manner as the general county taxes are levied and
collected, a special tax at a rate not to exceed twenty‑five cents (25¢)
on each one hundred dollars ($100.00) valuation of property in said county, to
be known as a "Watershed Improvement Tax," the funds therefrom, if the
levy be authorized by the voters of said county, to be used for the prevention
of flood water and sediment damages, and for furthering the conservation,
utilization and disposal of water and the development of water resources.
Any special election shall be conducted in accordance with G.S. 163‑287."

SECTION 10.22. G.S. 147‑69.6(f) reads
as rewritten:

"(f) The Board of Commissioners of Swain County
may direct the Swain County Board of Elections to conduct an advisory
referendum on the question of whether any portion of the principal of the Fund
should be disbursed to and expended by the county for a particular purpose. The
election shall be held on a date jointly agreed upon by the two boards,
which may be the same day as any other referendum or election in the county,
but may not otherwise be during the period beginning 30 days before and ending
30 days after the day of any other referendum or election to be conducted by
the board of elections and already validly called or scheduled by law. The
election shall be held in accordance with the procedures of G.S. 163‑287.
The question to be presented on the ballot shall disclose the specific purpose
proposed for expenditure of the principal investment of the Trust Fund and the
amount proposed for expenditure."

SECTION 10.23. G.S. 153A‑60 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 153A‑60.
Initiation of alterations by resolution.

The board of commissioners shall initiate any alteration in
the structure of the board by adopting a resolution. The resolution shall:

(1) Briefly but completely describe the proposed
alterations;

(2) Prescribe the manner of transition from the
existing structure to the altered structure;

(3) Define the electoral districts, if any, and
apportion the members among the districts;

(4) Call a special referendum on the question of
adoption of the alterations. The referendum shall be held and conducted by the
county board of elections. The referendum may be held only on a date
permitted by G.S. 163‑287. at the same time as any other
state, county or municipal primary, election, special election or referendum,
or on any date set by the board of county commissioners, provided, that such
referendum shall not be held within the period of time beginning 60 days before
and ending 60 days after any other primary, election, special election or
referendum held in the county.

Upon its adoption, the resolution shall be published in full."

SECTION 10.24. G.S. 153A‑405(a) reads
as rewritten:

"(a) If authorized to do so by the concurrent
resolutions that established it, a commission may call a referendum on its
proposed plan of governmental consolidation. If authorized or directed in the
concurrent resolutions, the ballot question may include the assumption of debt
secured by a pledge of faith and credit language and may also include the
assumption of the right to issue authorized but unissued faith and credit debt
language as provided in subsection (b) of this section. The referendum may
be held on the same day as any other referendum or election in the county or
counties involved, but may not otherwise be held during the period beginning 30
days before and ending 30 days after the day of any other referendum or
election to be conducted by the board or boards of elections conducting the
referendum and already validly called or scheduled by law.shall be held
in accordance with G.S. 163‑287."

The board of county commissioners in any county is authorized
and empowered to call a special election to determine whether it be the will of
the qualified voters of said county that they levy and cause to be collected
annually, at the same time and in the same manner as the general county taxes
are levied and collected, a special tax at a rate not to exceed five cents (5¢)
on each one hundred dollars ($100.00) valuation of property in said county, to
be known as an "industrial development tax," the funds therefrom, if
the levy be authorized by the voters of said county, to be used for the purpose
of attracting new and diversified industries to said county, and for the
encouragement of new business and industrial ventures by local as well as
foreign capital, and for the purpose of aiding and encouraging the location of
manufacturing enterprises, making industrial surveys and locating industrial
plants in said county, and for the purpose of encouraging agricultural
development in said county. Any special election shall be conducted in
accordance with G.S. 163‑287."

SECTION 10.26. G.S. 159‑61(b) reads as
rewritten:

"(b) The date of a bond referendum shall be fixed
by the governing board, but shall not be more than one year after adoption of
the bond order. order, only on a date permitted by G.S. 163‑287.
The governing board may call a special referendum for the purpose of
voting on a bond issue on any day, including the day of any regular or special
election held for another purpose (unless the law under which the bond
referendum or other election is held specifically prohibits submission of other
questions at the same time). A special bond referendum may not be held within
30 days before or 10 days after a statewide primary, election, or referendum,
or within 30 days before or 10 days after any other primary, election, or
referendum to be held in the same unit holding the bond referendum and already
validly called or scheduled by law at the time the bond referendum is called. The
clerk shall mail or deliver a certified copy of the resolution calling a
special bond referendum to the board of elections that is to conduct it within
three days after the resolution is adopted, but failure to observe this
requirement shall not in any manner affect the validity of the referendum or
bonds issued pursuant thereto. Bond referenda shall be conducted by the board
of elections conducting regular elections of the county, city, or special
district. In fixing the date of a bond referendum, the governing board shall
consult the board of elections in order that the referendum shall not unduly
interfere with other elections already scheduled or in process. Several
bond orders or other matters may be voted upon at the same referendum."

SECTION 10.27. G.S. 160A‑103 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 160A‑103.
Referendum on charter amendments by ordinance.

An ordinance adopted under G.S. 160A‑102 that is
not made effective upon approval by a vote of the people shall be subject to a
referendum petition. Upon receipt of a referendum petition bearing the
signatures and residence addresses of a number of qualified voters of the city
equal to at least 10 percent of the whole number of voters who are registered
to vote in city elections according to the most recent figures certified by the
State Board of Elections or 5,000, whichever is less, the council shall submit
an ordinance adopted under G.S. 160A‑102 to a vote of the people.
The date of the special election shall be fixed at on a date
permitted by G.S. 163‑287. not more than 120 nor fewer than
60 days after receipt of the petition. A referendum petition shall be
addressed to the council and shall identify the ordinance to be submitted to a
vote. A referendum petition must be filed with the city clerk not later than 30
days after publication of the notice of adoption of the ordinance."

SECTION 10.28. G.S. 160A‑104 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 160A‑104.
Initiative petitions for charter amendments.

The people may initiate a referendum on proposed charter
amendments. An initiative petition shall bear the signatures and resident
addresses of a number of qualified voters of the city equal to at least ten
percent (10%) of the whole number of voters who are registered to vote in city
elections according to the most recent figures certified by the State Board of
Elections or 5,000, whichever is less. The petition shall set forth the
proposed amendments by describing them briefly but completely and with
reference to the pertinent provisions of G.S. 160A‑101, but it need
not contain the precise text of the charter amendments necessary to implement
the proposed changes. The petition may not propose changes in the alternative,
or more than one integrated set of charter amendments. Upon receipt of a valid
initiative petition, the council shall call a special election on the question
of adopting the charter amendments proposed therein, and shall give public
notice thereof in accordance with G.S. 163‑287. The date of the
special election shall be fixed at on a date permitted by G.S. 163‑287.
not more than 120 nor fewer than 60 days after receipt of the petition. If
a majority of the votes cast in the special election shall be in favor of the
proposed changes, the council shall adopt an ordinance amending the charter to
put them into effect. Such an ordinance shall not be subject to a referendum
petition. No initiative petition may be filed (i) between the time the council
initiates proceedings under G.S. 160A‑102 by publishing a notice of
hearing on proposed charter amendments and the time proceeding under that
section have been carried to a conclusion either through adoption or rejection
of a proposed ordinance or lapse of time, nor (ii) within one year and six
months following the effective date of an ordinance amending the city charter
pursuant to this Article, nor (iii) within one year and six months following
the date of any election on charter amendments that were defeated by the
voters.

The restrictions imposed by this section on filing initiative
petitions shall apply only to petitions concerning the same subject matter. For
example, pendency of council action on amendments concerning the method of
electing the council shall not preclude an initiative petition on adoption of
the council‑manager form of government.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the
submission of more than one proposition for charter amendments on the same
ballot so long as no proposition offers a different plan under the same option
as another proposition on the same ballot."

SECTION 10.29. G.S. 160A‑583 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 160A‑583.
Funds.

The establishment and operation of a transportation authority
as herein authorized are governmental functions and constitute a public
purpose, and the municipality is hereby authorized to appropriate funds to
support the establishment and operation of the transit authority. The
municipality may also dedicate, sell, convey, donate or lease any of its
interest in any property to the authority. Further, the authority is hereby
authorized to establish such license and regulatory fees and charges as it may
deem appropriate, subject to the approval of the governing body of the
municipality. If the governing body finds that the funds otherwise available
are insufficient, it may call a special election without a petition and submit
to the qualified voters of the municipality the question of whether or not a special
tax shall be levied and/or bonds issued, specifying the maximum amount thereof,
for the purpose of acquiring lands, buildings, equipment and facilities and for
the operations of the transit authority. Any special election shall be
conducted in accordance with G.S. 163‑287."

SECTION 10.30. G.S. 162A‑68(d) reads
as rewritten:

"(d) If, at or prior to such public hearing, there
shall be filed with the district board a petition, signed by not less than ten
per centum (10%) of the qualified voters residing in the district, requesting
an election to be held therein on the question of including the political
subdivision or unincorporated area, the district board shall certify a copy of
such petition to the board or boards of commissioners, and the board or boards
of commissioners shall request the county board or boards of elections to
submit such question to the qualified voters within the district in accordance
with G.S. 163‑287 and the other applicable provisions
of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes; provided, that the election shall not
be held unless the Environmental Management Commission has adopted a resolution
approving the inclusion of the political subdivision or unincorporated area in
the district.

Notice of such election, which shall contain a statement of
the boundaries of the territory proposed to be included in the district and the
boundaries of the district after inclusion, shall be given by publication once
a week for three successive weeks in a newspaper or newspapers having general
circulation within the district, the first publication to be at least 30 days
prior to the election."

SECTION 10.31. G.S. 162A‑77.1 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 162A‑77.1.
Special election upon the question of the merger of metropolitan sewerage
districts into cities or towns.

Any district lying entirely within the corporate limits of a
city or town may be merged into such city or town in accordance with the
provisions of this section.

The governing body of a city or town, with the approval of
the district board, shall call and conduct a special election within such city
or town on the question of the merger of the district into the city or town. A
vote in favor of such merger shall constitute a vote for such city or town to
assume the obligations of the district. Such special election may be called and
conducted by the governing body of a city or town upon its own motion after
passage of a resolution of the district board requesting or approving the
special election. Any special election shall be conducted in accordance with
G.S. 163‑287.

A new registration of voters shall not be required for the
special election. The special election shall be conducted in accordance with
the provisions of law applicable to regular elections in the city or town.

If a majority of the votes are in favor of the merger, then:

(1) All property, real and personal and mixed,
including accounts receivable, belonging to such district shall vest in, belong
to, and be the property of, such city or town. All district boards are hereby
authorized to take such actions and to execute such documents as will carry
into effect the provisions and the intent of this section.

(2) All judgments, liens, rights of liens, and causes
of action of any nature in favor of such district shall vest in and remain and
inure to the benefit of such city or town.

(3) All taxes, assessments, sewer charges, and any
other debts, charges or fees, owing to such district shall be owed to and
collected by such city or town.

(4) All actions, suits and proceedings pending against,
or having been instituted by, such district shall not be abated by this section
or by the merger herein provided for, but all such actions, suits, and
proceedings shall be continued and completed in the same manner as if merger
had not occurred, and such city or town shall be a party to all such actions,
suits, and proceedings in the place and stead of the district and shall pay or
cause to be paid any judgments rendered against the district in any such
actions, suits, or proceedings. No new process need be served in any such
action, suit, or proceeding.

(5) All obligations of the district, including
outstanding indebtedness, shall be assumed by such city or town, and all such
obligations and outstanding indebtedness shall constitute obligations and
indebtedness of such city or town, and the full faith and credit of such city
or town shall be deemed to be pledged for the punctual payment of the principal
of and the interest on any general obligation bonds or bond anticipation notes
of such district, and all the taxable property within such city or town, as
well as that formerly located within the district, shall be and remain subject
to taxation for such payment.

(6) All ordinances, rules, regulations, and policies of
such district shall continue in full force and effect until repealed or amended
by the governing body of such city or town.

(7) Such district shall be abolished, and shall no
longer be constituted a public body or a body politic and corporate, except for
the purposes of carrying into effect the provisions and the intent of this
section.

If a majority of the votes are against the merger, then such
merger shall not be effective unless approved by a majority of the qualified
voters who vote thereon in a subsequent special election conducted under
authority of this section.

Any action or proceeding in any court to set aside a special
election held under authority of this section or the result thereof, or to
obtain any other relief upon the ground that such election or any proceeding or
action taken with respect to the holding of such election is invalid, must be
commenced within 30 days after the day of such special election. After the
expiration of such period of limitation, no right of action or defense founded
upon the invalidity of the election or the result thereof shall be asserted,
nor shall the validity of the election or of the result thereof be open to
question in any court upon any ground whatever, except in an action or
proceeding commenced within such period."

SECTION 10.32. This Part becomes effective
January 1, 2014, and applies to special elections held on or after that date.

PART 11. POLL OBSERVERS

SECTION 11.1. G.S. 163‑45 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑45.
Observers; appointment.

(a) The chair of each political party in the
county shall have the right to designate two observers to attend each voting
place at each primary and election and such observers may, at the option of the
designating party chair, be relieved during the day of the primary or election
after serving no less than four hours and provided the list required by this
section to be filed by each chair contains the names of all persons authorized
to represent such chair's political party. The chair of each political party
in the county shall have the right to designate 10 additional at‑large
observers who are residents of that county who may attend any voting place in
that county. The list submitted by the chair of the political party may be
amended between the one‑stop period under G.S. 163‑227.2 and
general election day to substitute one or all at‑large observers for
election day. Not more than two observers from the same political party
shall be permitted in the voting enclosure at any time. time, except
that in addition one of the at‑large observers from each party may also
be in the voting enclosure. This right shall not extend to the chair of a
political party during a primary unless that party is participating in the
primary. In any election in which an unaffiliated candidate is named on the
ballot, the candidate or the candidate's campaign manager shall have the right
to appoint two observers for each voting place consistent with the provisions
specified herein. Persons appointed as observers must be registered voters of
the county for which appointed and must have good moral character. No person
who is a candidate on the ballot in a primary or election may serve as an
observer or runner in that primary or election. Observers shall take no oath of
office.

(b) Individuals authorized to appoint observers
must submit in writing to the chief judge of each precinct a signed list of the
observers appointed for that precinct. precinct, except that the list
of at‑large observers authorized in subsection (a) of this section shall
be submitted to the county supervisor of elections. Individuals authorized
to appoint observers must, prior to 10:00 A.M. on the fifth day prior to any
primary or general election, submit in writing to the chair of the county board
of elections two signed copies of a list of observers appointed by them,
designating the precinct or at‑large status for which each
observer is appointed. Before the opening of the voting place on the day of a
primary or general election, the chair shall deliver one copy of the list to
the chief judge for each affected precinct. precinct, except that the
list of at‑large observers shall be provided by the county supervisor of
elections to the chief judge. The chair shall retain the other copy. The
chair, or the chief judge and judges for each affected precinct, may for good
cause reject any appointee and require that another be appointed. The names of
any persons appointed in place of those persons rejected shall be furnished in
writing to the chief judge of each affected precinct no later than the time for
opening the voting place on the day of any primary or general election, either
by the chair of the county board of elections or the person making the
substitute appointment.

If party chairs appoint observers at one‑stop sites
under G.S. 163‑227.2, those party chairs shall provide a list of the
observers appointed before 10:00 A.M. on the fifth day before the observer is
to observe. At‑large observers may serve at any one‑stop site.

(c) An observer shall do no electioneering at
the voting place, and shall in no manner impede the voting process or interfere
or communicate with or observe any voter in casting a ballot, but, subject to
these restrictions, the chief judge and judges of elections shall permit the observer
to make such observation and take such notes as the observer may desire.

(d) Whether or not the observer attends to the
polls for the requisite time provided by this section, each observer shall be
entitled to obtain at times specified by the State Board of Elections, but not
less than three times during election day with the spacing not less than one
hour apart, a list of the persons who have voted in the precinct so far in that
election day. Counties that use an "authorization to vote document"
instead of poll books may comply with the requirement in the previous sentence
by permitting each observer to inspect election records so that the observer
may create a list of persons who have voted in the precinct so far that
election day; each observer shall be entitled to make the inspection at times
specified by the State Board of Elections, but not less than three times during
election day with the spacing not less than one hour apart.

Instead of having an observer receive the voting list, the
county party chair may send a runner to do so, even if an observer has not been
appointed for that precinct. The runner may be the precinct party chair or any
person named by the county party chair. Each county party chair using runners
in an election shall provide to the county board of elections before 10:00 A.M.
on the fifth day before election day a list of the runners to be used. That
party chair must notify the chair of the county board of elections or the board
chair's designee of the names of all runners to be used in each precinct before
the runner goes to the precinct. The runner may receive a voter list from the
precinct on the same schedule as an observer. Whether obtained by observer or
runner, each party is entitled to only one voter list at each of the scheduled
times. No runner may enter the voting enclosure except when necessary to
announce that runner's presence and to receive the list. The runner must leave
immediately after being provided with the list."

SECTION 11.2. The Joint Legislative Elections
Oversight Committee shall study a bill of rights for election observers to guarantee
their right to help assist proper voting while ensuring proper protection for
voters and recommend to the General Assembly any legislation it deems
advisable. It may make an interim report prior to the date that the General
Assembly reconvenes the 2013 Regular Session in 2014 and shall make a final
report before the convening of the 2015 Regular Session of the General
Assembly.

PART 12. ELIMINATION OF PREREGISTRATION

SECTION 12.1.(a) G.S. 163‑82.1(d) is
repealed.

SECTION 12.1.(b) G.S. 163‑82.3(a)(5)
is repealed.

SECTION 12.1.(c) G.S. 163‑82.4(d)
reads as rewritten:

"(d) Citizenship and Age Questions. – Voter
registration application forms shall include all of the following:

(1) The following question and statement:

a. "Are you a citizen of the United States of
America?" and boxes for the applicant to check to indicate whether the
applicant is or is not a citizen of the United States.

b. "If you checked 'no' in response to this
question, do not submit this form."

(2) The following questions question and
statement:

a. "Will you be 18 years of age on or before
election day?" and boxes for the applicant to check to indicate whether
the applicant will be 18 years of age or older on election day.

b."Are you at least 16 years of age
and understand that you must be 18 years of age on or before election day to
vote?" and boxes for the applicant to check to indicate whether the
applicant is at least 16 years of age and understands that the applicant must
be at least 18 years of age or older by election day to vote.

c. "If you checked 'no' in response to both of
these questions, this question, do not submit this form."

SECTION 12.1.(d) G.S. 163‑82.23 reads
as rewritten:

"§ 163‑82.23.
Voter registration at public high schools.

Every public high school shall make available to its students
and others who are eligible to register and preregister to vote the
application forms described in G.S. 163‑82.3, and shall keep a
sufficient supply of the forms so that they are always available. A local board
of education may, but is not required to, designate high school employees to
assist in completing the forms. Only employees who volunteer for this duty may
be designated by boards of education."

SECTION 12.1.(e) G.S. 163‑82.19(a)
reads as rewritten:

"(a) Voter Registration at Drivers License
Offices. – The Division of Motor Vehicles shall, pursuant to the rules adopted
by the State Board of Elections, modify its forms so that any eligible person
who applies for original issuance, renewal or correction of a drivers license,
or special identification card issued under G.S. 20‑37.7 may, on a
part of the form, complete an application to register to vote, or to update the
voter's registration if the voter has changed his or her address or moved from
one precinct to another or from one county to another, or to preregister to
vote. another. The person taking the application shall ask if the
applicant is a citizen of the United States. If the applicant states that the
applicant is not a citizen of the United States, or declines to answer the
question, the person taking the application shall inform the applicant that it
is a felony for a person who is not a citizen of the United States to apply to
register to vote. Any person who willfully and knowingly and with fraudulent
intent gives false information on the application is guilty of a Class I
felony. The application shall state in clear language the penalty for violation
of this section. The necessary forms shall be prescribed by the State Board of
Elections. The form must ask for the previous voter registration address of the
voter, if any. If a previous address is listed, and it is not in the county of
residence of the applicant, the appropriate county board of elections shall
treat the application as an authorization to cancel the previous registration
and also process it as such under the procedures of G.S. 163‑82.9.
If a previous address is listed and that address is in the county where the
voter applies to register, the application shall be processed as if it had been
submitted under G.S. 163‑82.9.

Registration shall become effective as provided in G.S. 163‑82.7.
Applications to register to vote accepted at a drivers license office under
this section until the deadline established in G.S. 163‑82.6(c)(2)
shall be treated as timely made for an election, and no person who completes an
application at that drivers license office shall be denied the vote in that
election for failure to apply earlier than that deadline.

All applications shall be forwarded by the Department of
Transportation to the appropriate board of elections not later than five
business days after the date of acceptance, according to rules which shall be
promulgated by the State Board of Elections. Those rules shall provide for a
paperless, instant, electronic transfer of applications to the appropriate
board of elections. Applications for preregistration to vote shall be
forwarded to the State Board of Elections."

SECTION 12.1.(f) G.S. 163‑82.20 reads
as rewritten:

"§ 163‑82.20.
Voter registration at other public agencies.

(a) Voter Registration Agencies. – Every office in
this State which accepts:

(1) Applications for a program of public assistance
under Article 2 of Chapter 108A of the General Statutes or under Article 13 of
Chapter 130A of the General Statutes;

(2) Applications for State‑funded State or local
government programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons with
disabilities, with such office designated by the State Board of Elections; or

(3) Claims for benefits under Chapter 96 of the General
Statutes, the Employment Security Law, is designated as a voter registration
agency for purposes of this section.

(b) Duties of Voter Registration Agencies. – A voter
registration agency described in subsection (a) of this section shall, unless
the applicant declines, in writing, to register or preregister to vote:

(1) Distribute with each application for service or
assistance, and with each recertification, renewal, or change of address
relating to such service or assistance:

a. The voter registration application form described
in G.S. 163‑82.3(a) or (b); or

b. The voter registration agency's own form, if it is
substantially equivalent to the form described in G.S. 163‑82.3(a)
or (b) and has been approved by the State Board of Elections, provided that the
agency's own form may be a detachable part of the agency's paper application or
may be a paperless computer process, as long as the applicant is required to
sign an attestation as part of the application to register or preregister.register.

(2) Provide a form that contains the elements required
by section 7(a)(6)(B) of the National Voter Registration Act; and

(3) Provide to each applicant who does not decline to
register or preregister to vote the same degree of assistance with
regard to the completion of the registration application as is provided by the
office with regard to the completion of its own forms.

(c) Provided that voter registration agencies
designated under subdivision (a)(3) of this section shall only be required to
provide the services set out in this subsection to applicants for new claims,
reopened claims, and changes of address under Chapter 96 of the General
Statutes, the Employment Security Law.

(d) Home Registration for Disabled. – If a voter
registration agency provides services to a person with disability at the person's
home, the voter registration agency shall provide the services described in
subsection (b) of this section at the person's home.

(e) Prohibitions. – Any person providing any service
under subsection (b) of this section shall not:

(1) Seek to influence an applicant's political
preference or party registration, except that this shall not be construed to
prevent the notice provided by G.S. 163‑82.4(c) to be given if the
applicant refuses to declare his party affiliation;

(2) Display any such political preference or party
allegiance;

(3) Make any statement to an applicant or take any
action the purpose or effect of which is to discourage the applicant from
registering or preregistering to vote; or

(4) Make any statement to an applicant or take any
action the purpose or effect of which is to lead the applicant to believe that
a decision to register or preregister or not to register or
preregister has any bearing on the availability of services or benefits.

(f) Confidentiality of Declination to Register. – No
information relating to a declination to register or preregister to vote
in connection with an application made at a voter registration agency may be
used for any purpose other than voter registration.

(g) Transmittal From Agency to Board of Elections. –
Any voter registration or preregistration application completed at a
voter registration agency shall be accepted by that agency in lieu of the
applicant's mailing the application. Any such application so received shall be
transmitted to the appropriate board of elections not later than five business
days after acceptance, according to rules which shall be promulgated by the
State Board of Elections.

(h) Twenty‑Five‑Day Deadline for an
Election. – Applications to register accepted by a voter registration agency
shall entitle a registrant to vote in any primary, general, or special election
unless the registrant shall have made application later than the twenty‑fifth
calendar day immediately preceding such primary, general, or special election,
provided that nothing shall prohibit voter registration agencies from
continuing to accept applications during that period.

(i) Ineligible Applications Prohibited. – No person
shall make application to register or preregister to vote under this
section if that person is ineligible on account of age, citizenship, lack of
residence for the period of time provided by law, or because of conviction of a
felony."

SECTION 12.1.(g) G.S. 115C‑81(g1)(1)
reads as rewritten:

"(1) The State Board of Education shall modify the
high school social studies curriculum to include instruction in civic and
citizenship education. The State Board of Education is strongly encouraged to
include, at a minimum, the following components in the high school civic and citizenship
education curriculum:

a. That students write to a local, State, or federal
elected official about an issue that is important to them;

b. Instruction on the importance of voting and
otherwise participating in the democratic process, including instruction on
voter registration and preregistration;registration;

c. Information about current events and governmental
structure; and

d. Information about the democratic process and how
laws are made."

SECTION 12.1.(h) G.S. 115C‑47(59)
reads as rewritten:

"(59) To Encourage Student Voter Registration and
Preregistration. Registration. – Local boards of education are
encouraged to adopt policies to promote student voter registration and
preregistration. registration. These policies may include
collaboration with county boards of elections to conduct voter registration and
preregistration in high schools. Completion and submission of voter
registration or preregistration forms shall not be a course requirement
or graded assignment for students."

SECTION 12.1.(i) The Department of Public
Instruction is encouraged to improve outreach to high school students on
registering to vote when they are eligible, including the curriculum element on
instruction in voter registration already provided by G.S. 115C‑47(59)
and voter registration in public high schools as already allowed by G.S. 163‑82.23.

SECTION 12.1.(j) This section becomes effective September
1, 2013. All voter preregistrations completed and received by the State Board
prior to that date shall be processed and those voters registered, as
appropriate.

PART 13. "WET INK" ON VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS

SECTION 13.1. G.S. 163‑82.6(b) reads
as rewritten:

"(b) Signature. – The form shall be valid only if
signed by the applicant. An electronically captured signature, including
signatures on applications generated by computer programs of third‑party
groups, shall not be valid on a voter registration form, except as provided in
Article 21A of this Chapter.An Notwithstanding the provisions of
this subsection, an electronically captured image of the signature of a
voter on an electronic voter registration form offered by a State agency shall
be considered a valid signature for all purposes for which a signature on a
paper voter registration form is used."

PART 14. COMPENSATION FOR VOTER REGISTRATION LIMITED

SECTION 14.1. G.S. 163‑274(a) is
amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

"(14)For any person to be compensated based
on the number of forms submitted for assisting persons in registering to vote."

PART 16. ELIMINATE SAME‑DAY VOTER REGISTRATION

SECTION 16.1. The subsections of G.S. 163‑82.6A,
other than subsection (e), are repealed.

SECTION 16.1A. The catch line of G.S. 163‑82.6A
reads as rewritten:

"§ 163‑82.6A.
In‑person registration and voting Address and name changes at
one‑stop sites."

SECTION 16.2. G.S. 163‑59 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑59.
Right to participate or vote in party primary.

No person shall be entitled to vote or otherwise participate
in the primary election of any political party unless that person complies with
all of the following:

(1) Is a registered voter.

(2) Has declared and has had recorded on the
registration book or record the fact that the voter affiliates with the
political party in whose primary the voter proposes to vote or participate.

(3) Is in good faith a member of that party.

Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, any unaffiliated
voter who is authorized under G.S. 163‑119 may also vote in the
primary if the voter is otherwise eligible to vote in that primary except for
subdivisions (2) and (3) of the previous paragraph.

Any person who will become qualified by age to register and
vote in the general election for which the primary is held, even though not so
qualified by the date of the primary, shall be entitled to register for the
primary and general election prior to the primary and then to vote in the
primary after being registered. Such person may register not earlier than 60
days nor later than the last day for making application to register under G.S. 163‑82.6(c)
prior to the primary. In addition, persons who will become qualified by age to
register and vote in the general election for which the primary is held, who do
not register during the special period may register to vote after such period
as if they were qualified on the basis of age, but until they are qualified by
age to vote, they may vote only in primary elections. Such a person also may
register and vote in the primary and general election pursuant to G.S. 163‑82.6A(f)."

SECTION 16.3. G.S. 163‑82.6(c) reads
as rewritten:

"(c) Registration Deadlines for a Primary or
Election. – In order to be valid for a primary or election, except as
provided in G.S. 163‑82.6A, the form:

(1) If submitted by mail, must be postmarked at least
25 days before the primary or election, except that any mailed application on
which the postmark is missing or unclear is validly submitted if received in
the mail not later than 20 days before the primary or election,

(2) If submitted in person, by facsimile transmission,
or by transmission of a scanned document, must be received by the county board
of elections by a time established by that board, but no earlier than 5:00
P.M., on the twenty‑fifth day before the primary or election,

(3) If submitted through a delegatee who violates the
duty set forth in subsection (a) of this section, must be signed by the
applicant and given to the delegatee not later than 25 days before the primary
or election, except as provided in subsection (d) of this section."

SECTION 16.4. G.S. 163‑166.12(b2)
reads as rewritten:

"(b2) Voting When Identification Numbers Do Not
Match. – Regardless of whether an individual has registered by mail or by
another method, if the individual has provided with the registration form a
drivers license number or last four digits of a Social Security number but the
computer validation of the number as required by G.S. 163‑82.12 did
not result in a match, and the number has not been otherwise validated by the
board of elections, in the first election in which the individual votes that individual
shall submit with the ballot the form of identification described in subsection
(a) or subsection (b) of this section, depending upon whether the ballot is
voted in person or absentee. If that identification is provided and the board
of elections does not determine that the individual is otherwise ineligible to
vote a ballot, the failure of identification numbers to match shall not prevent
that individual from registering to vote and having that individual's vote
counted. If the individual registers and votes under G.S. 163‑82.6A,
the identification documents required in that section, rather than those
described in subsection (a) or (b) of this section, apply."

SECTION 16.5. G.S. 163‑227.2(a) reads
as rewritten:

"(a) Any voter eligible to vote by absentee ballot
under G.S. 163‑226 may request an application for absentee ballots,
complete the application, and vote under the provisions of this section and
of G.S. 163‑82.6A, as applicable.section."

SECTION 16.6. G.S. 163‑283 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑283.
Right to participate or vote in party primary.

No person shall be entitled to vote or otherwise participate
in the primary election of any political party unless that person complies with
all of the following:

(1) Is a registered voter.

(2) Has declared and has had recorded on the
registration book or record the fact that the voter affiliates with the
political party in whose primary the voter proposes to vote or participate.

(3) Is in good faith a member of that party.

Notwithstanding the previous paragraph, any unaffiliated
voter who is authorized under G.S. 163‑119 may also vote in the
primary if the voter is otherwise eligible to vote in that primary except for
subdivisions (2) and (3) of the previous paragraph.

Any person who will become qualified by age to register and
vote in the general election for which the primary is held, even though not so
qualified by the date of the primary election, shall be entitled to register
while the registration books are open during the regular registration period
prior to the primary and then to vote in the primary after being registered,
provided however, under full‑time and permanent registration, such an
individual may register not earlier than 60 days nor later than the last day
for making application to register under G.S. 163‑82.6(c) prior to
the primary. In addition, persons who will become qualified by age to register
and vote in the general election for which the primary is held, who do not
register during the special period may register to vote after such period as if
they were qualified on the basis of age, but until they are qualified by age to
vote, they may vote only in primary elections. Such a person also may
register and vote in the primary and general election pursuant to G.S. 163‑82.6A(f)."

SECTION 16.7. G.S. 163‑283.1 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑283.1.
Voting in nonpartisan primary.

Any person who will become qualified by age to register and
vote in the general election for which a nonpartisan primary is held, even
though not so qualified by the date of the primary, shall be entitled to
register for the primary and general election prior to the primary and then to
vote in the primary after being registered. Such a person may register not
earlier than 60 days nor later than the last day for making application to
register under G.S. 163‑82.6(c) prior to the primary. Such a
person also may register and vote in the primary and general election pursuant
to G.S. 163‑82.6A(f)."

SECTION 16.8. G.S. 163‑330 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑330.
Voting in primary.

Any person who will become qualified by age to register and
vote in the general election for which the primary is held, even though not so
qualified by the date of the primary, shall be entitled to register for the
primary and general election prior to the primary and then to vote in the
primary after being registered. Such person may register not earlier than 60
days nor later than the last day for making application to register under G.S. 163‑82.6(c)
prior to the primary. Such a person also may register and vote in the
primary and general election pursuant to G.S. 163‑82.6A(f)."

PART 17. ENHANCE DELIVERY OF MILITARY AND OVERSEAS ABSENTEE
BALLOTS FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS WHEN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATING CONVENTIONS
CONCLUDE AFTER LABOR DAY

SECTION 17.(a) G.S. 163‑227.3 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑227.3.
Date by which absentee ballots must be available for voting.

(a) A board of elections shall provide absentee
ballots of the kinds needed 60 days prior to the statewide general election in
even‑numbered years and 50 days prior to the date on which any other
election shall be conducted, unless 45 days is authorized by the State Board of
Elections under G.S. 163‑22(k) or there shall exist an appeal before
the State Board or the courts not concluded, in which case the board shall
provide the ballots as quickly as possible upon the conclusion of such an
appeal. Provided, in a presidential election year, the board of elections
shall provide general election ballots no later than three days after nomination
of the presidential and vice presidential candidates if that nomination occurs
later than 63 days prior to the statewide general election and makes compliance
with the 60‑day deadline impossible. However, in the case of
municipal elections, absentee ballots shall be made available no later than 30
days before an election. In every instance the board of elections shall exert
every effort to provide absentee ballots, of the kinds needed by the date on
which absentee voting is authorized to commence.

(b) Second Primary. – The board of elections shall
provide absentee ballots, of the kinds needed, as quickly as possible after the
ballot information for a second primary has been determined."

SECTION 17.(b) G.S. 163‑258.9(a) reads
as rewritten:

"(a) Not later than 60 days before the statewide
general election in even‑numbered years and not later than 50 days before
any other election, the county board of elections shall transmit a ballot and
balloting materials to all covered voters who by that date submit a valid military‑overseas
ballot application, except for a second primary. Provided, in a presidential
election year, the board of elections shall provide general election ballots no
later than three days after nomination of the presidential and vice presidential
candidates if that nomination occurs later than 63 days prior to the statewide
general election and makes compliance with the 60‑day deadline
impossible. However, in the case of municipal elections, absentee ballots
shall be made available no later than 30 days before an election. For a second
primary which includes a candidate for federal office, the county board of
elections shall transmit a ballot and balloting material to all covered voters
who by that date submit a valid military‑overseas ballot application no
later than 45 days before the second primary. For a second primary which does
not include a candidate for federal office, the transmission of the ballot and
ballot materials shall be as soon as practicable and shall be transmitted
electronically no later than three business days and by mail no later than 15
days from the date the appropriate board of elections orders that the second
primary be held pursuant to G.S. 163‑111. If additional offices are
added to the ballot to fill a vacancy occurring after the deadline provided by
this subsection, those ballots shall be transmitted as soon as practicable."

"(a) Uniform Program. – The State Board of
Elections shall adopt a uniform program that makes a reasonable effort:diligent
effort not less than twice each year:

(1) To remove the names of ineligible voters from the
official lists of eligible voters, and

(2) To update the addresses and other necessary data of
persons who remain on the official lists of eligible voters.

That program shall be nondiscriminatory and shall comply with
the provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, as amended, and with the
provisions of the National Voter Registration Act. The State Board of
Elections, in addition to the methods set forth in this section, may use other
methods toward the ends set forth in subdivisions (1) and (2) of this
subsection, including address‑updating services provided by the Postal Service.Service,
and entering into data sharing agreements with other states to cross‑check
information on voter registration and voting records. Any data sharing
agreement shall require the other state or states to comply with G.S. 163‑82.10
and G.S. 163‑82.10B. Each county board of elections shall
conduct systematic efforts to remove names from its list of registered voters
in accordance with this section and with the program adopted by the State
Board. The county boards of elections shall complete their list maintenance
mailing program by April 15 of every odd‑numbered year, unless the State
Board of Elections approves a different date for the county."

SECTION 18.2. The State Board of Elections shall
actively seek ways to share and cross‑check information on voting records
and voter registration with other states to improve the accuracy of voter
registration lists, using resources such as the Electronic
Registration Information Center and by entering into interstate compacts for
this purpose.

SECTION 18.3. This Part is effective when it
becomes law.

PART 19. NO MANDATED VOTER REGISTRATION DRIVE

SECTION 19.1. G.S. 163‑82.25 is
repealed.

PART 20. VOTER RECORDS ACCESS CLARIFICATION AND CHALLENGES

SECTION 20.1. G.S. 163‑84 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑84.
Time for challenge other than on day of primary or election.

The registration records of each county shall be open to
inspection by any registered voter of the county, State, including
any chief judge or judge of elections, during the normal business hours of the
county board of elections on the days when the board's office is open. At those
times the right of any person to register, remain registered, or vote shall be
subject to objection and challenge."

SECTION 20.2. G.S. 163‑87 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑87.
Challenges allowed on day of primary or election.

On the day of a primary or election, at the time a registered
voter offers to vote, any other registered voter of the precinct county
may exercise the right of challenge, and when he does so may enter the
voting enclosure to make the challenge, but he shall retire therefrom as soon
as the challenge is heard.

On the day of a primary or election, any other registered
voter of the precinct county may challenge a person for one or
more of the following reasons:

(4) If the challenge is made with respect to voting in
a partisan primary, that the person is a registered voter of another political
party.

The chief judge, judge, or assistant appointed under G.S. 163‑41
or 163‑42 may enter challenges under this section against voters in the
precinct for which appointed regardless of the place of residence of the chief
judge, judge, or assistant.

If a person is challenged under this subsection, and the
challenge is sustained under G.S. 163‑85(c)(3), the voter may still
transfer his registration under G.S. 163‑82.15(e) if eligible under
that section, and the registration shall not be cancelled under G.S. 163‑90.2(a)
if the transfer is made. A person who has transferred his registration under G.S. 163‑82.15(e)
may be challenged at the precinct to which the registration is being
transferred."

PART 21. CANDIDATE WITHDRAWAL

SECTION 21.1. G.S. 163‑106(e) reads as
rewritten:

"(e) Withdrawal of Notice of Candidacy. – Any
person who has filed notice of candidacy for an office shall have the right to
withdraw it at any time prior to the close of business on the third business
day prior to the date on which the right to file for that office expires
under the terms of subsection (c) of this section. If a candidate does not
withdraw before the filing deadline, except as provided in G.S. 163‑112,
his name shall be printed on the primary ballot, any votes for him shall be
counted, and he shall not be refunded his filing fee."

SECTION 21.2. G.S. 163‑294.2(d) reads
as rewritten:

"(d) Any person may withdraw his notice of
candidacy at any time prior to the close of business on the third business
day prior to the filing deadline prescribed in subsection (c), and shall be
entitled to a refund of his filing fee if he does so."

SECTION 21.3. G.S. 163‑323(c) reads as
rewritten:

"(c) Withdrawal of Notice of Candidacy. – Any
person who has filed a notice of candidacy for an office shall have the right
to withdraw it at any time prior to the close of business on the third
business day prior to the date on which the right to file for that office expires
under the terms of subsection (b) of this section."

PART 22. PETITIONS IN LIEU

SECTION 22.1. G.S. 163‑107.1 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑107.1.
Petition in lieu of payment of filing fee.

(a) Any qualified voter who seeks nomination in the
party primary of the political party with which he affiliates may, in lieu of
payment of any filing fee required for the office he seeks, file a written
petition requesting him to be a candidate for a specified office with the
appropriate board of elections, State, county or municipal.

(b) If the candidate is seeking the office of United
States Senator, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or any State executive officer,
the petition must be signed by 10,000 registered voters who are members of the
political party in whose primary the candidate desires to run, except that in
the case of a political party as defined by G.S. 163‑96(a)(2) which
will be making nominations by primary election, the petition must be signed by ten
percent (10%) five percent (5%) of the registered voters of the
State who are affiliated with the same political party in whose primary the
candidate desires to run, or in the alternative, the petition shall be signed
by no less than 10,000 8,000 registered voters regardless of the
voter's political party affiliation, whichever requirement is greater. The
petition must be filed with the State Board of Elections not later than 12:00
noon on Monday preceding the filing deadline before the primary in which he
seeks to run. The names on the petition shall be verified by the board of
elections of the county where the signer is registered, and the petition must
be presented to the county board of elections at least 15 days before the
petition is due to be filed with the State Board of Elections. When a proper petition
has been filed, the candidate's name shall be printed on the primary ballot.

(c) County, Municipal and District Primaries. – If the
candidate is seeking one of the offices set forth in G.S. 163‑106(c)
but which is not listed in subsection (b) of this section, or a municipal or
any other office requiring a partisan primary which is not set forth in G.S. 163‑106(c)
or (d), he shall file a written petition with the appropriate board of
elections no later than 12:00 noon on Monday preceding the filing deadline
before the primary. The petition shall be signed by ten percent (10%) five
percent (5%) of the registered voters of the election area in which the
office will be voted for, who are affiliated with the same political party in
whose primary the candidate desires to run, or in the alternative, the petition
shall be signed by no less than 200 registered voters regardless of said voter's
political party affiliation, whichever requirement is greater. The board of
elections shall verify the names on the petition, and if the petition is found
to be sufficient, the candidate's name shall be printed on the appropriate
primary ballot. Petitions for candidates for member of the U.S. House of
Representatives, District Attorney, and members of the State House of Representatives
from multi‑county districts or members of the State Senate from multi‑county
districts must be presented to the county board of elections for verification
at least 15 days before the petition is due to be filed with the State Board of
Elections, and such petition must be filed with the State Board of Elections no
later than 12:00 noon on Monday preceding the filing deadline. The State Board
of Elections may adopt rules to implement this section and to provide standard
petition forms.

(d) Nonpartisan Primaries and Elections. – Any
qualified voter who seeks to be a candidate in any nonpartisan primary or
election may, in lieu of payment of the filing fee required, file a written
petition signed by ten percent (10%) five percent (5%) of the
registered voters in the election area in which the office will be voted for
with the appropriate board of elections. Any qualified voter may sign the
petition. The petition shall state the candidate's name, address and the office
which he is seeking. The petition must be filed with the appropriate board of
elections no later than 60 days prior to the filing deadline for the primary or
election, and if found to be sufficient, the candidate's name shall be printed
on the ballot."

SECTION 22.2. G.S. 163‑325(b) reads as
rewritten:

"(b) Requirements of Petition; Deadline for Filing.
– If the candidate is seeking the office of justice of the Supreme Court, judge
of the Court of Appeals, or superior or district court judge, that individual
shall file a written petition with the State Board of Elections no later than
12:00 noon on Monday preceding the filing deadline before the primary. If the
office is justice of the Supreme Court or judge of the Court of Appeals, the
petition shall be signed by 10,000 8,000 registered voters in the
State. If the office is superior court or district court judge, the petition
shall be signed by ten percent (10%) five percent (5%) of the
registered voters of the election area in which the office will be voted for.
The board of elections shall verify the names on the petition, and if the
petition and notice of candidacy are found to be sufficient, the candidate's
name shall be printed on the appropriate ballot. Petitions must be presented to
the county board of elections for verification at least 15 days before the
petition is due to be filed with the State Board of Elections. The State Board
of Elections may adopt rules to implement this section and to provide standard
petition forms."

PART 23. TIMELY WITHDRAWAL OF PARTY NOMINEE

SECTION 23.1. G.S. 163‑113 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑113.
Nominee's right to withdraw as candidate.

A person who has been declared the nominee of a political
party for a specified office under the provisions of G.S. 163‑182.15
or G.S. 163‑110, shall not be permitted to resign as a candidate
unless, at least 30 days before the general election, prior to the
first day on which military and overseas absentee ballots are transmitted to
voters under Article 21A of this Chapter, he that person submits
to the board of elections which certified his the nomination a
written request that he person be permitted to withdraw."

PART 24. BETTER MANAGE PRECINCT SIZES

SECTION 24.1. The Joint Legislative Elections
Oversight Committee shall study optimal numbers of voters in election precincts
so as to reduce overcrowding and long lines and recommend to the General
Assembly any legislation it deems advisable. The study shall also examine the
size of the polling place itself, its accessibility, and parking availability.
It may make an interim report prior to the date that the General Assembly
reconvenes the 2013 Regular Session in 2014, and shall make a final report
before the convening of the 2015 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

(b) Not earlier than the third second Thursday
before an election, in which absentee ballots are authorized, in which a voter
seeks to vote and not later than 1:00 P.M. on the last Saturday before that
election, the voter shall appear in person only at the office of the county
board of elections, provided in subsection (g) of this section. A county board
of elections shall conduct one‑stop voting on the last Saturday before
the election until 1:00 P.M. 1:00 P.M. and may conduct it until 5:00
P.M. on that Saturday. That voter shall enter the voting enclosure at the
board office through the appropriate entrance and shall at once state his or
her name and place of residence to an authorized member or employee of the
board. In a primary election, the voter shall also state the political party
with which the voter affiliates and in whose primary the voter desires to vote,
or if the voter is an unaffiliated voter permitted to vote in the primary of a
particular party under G.S. 163‑119, the voter shall state the name
of the authorizing political party in whose primary he wishes to vote. The
board member or employee to whom the voter gives this information shall
announce the name and residence of the voter in a distinct tone of voice. After
examining the registration records, an employee of the board shall state
whether the person seeking to vote is duly registered. If the voter is found to
be registered that voter may request that the authorized member or employee of
the board furnish the voter with an application form as specified in G.S. 163‑227.
The voter shall complete the application in the presence of the authorized
member or employee of the board, and shall deliver the application to that
person.

…

(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of this
section, a county board of elections by unanimous vote of all its members may
provide for one or more sites in that county for absentee ballots to be applied
for and cast under this section. Every individual staffing any of those sites
shall be a member or full‑time employee of the county board of elections
or an employee of the county board of elections whom the board has given
training equivalent to that given a full‑time employee. Those sites must
be approved by the State Board of Elections as part of a Plan for
Implementation approved by both the county board of elections and by the State
Board of Elections which shall also provide adequate security of the ballots
and provisions to avoid allowing persons to vote who have already voted. The
Plan for Implementation shall include a provision for the presence of political
party observers at each one‑stop site equivalent to the provisions in G.S. 163‑45
for party observers at voting places on election day. A county board of
elections may propose in its Plan not to offer one‑stop voting at the
county board of elections office; the State Board may approve that proposal in
a Plan only if the Plan includes at least one site reasonably proximate to the
county board of elections office and the State Board finds that the sites in
the Plan as a whole provide adequate coverage of the county's electorate. If a
county board of elections has considered a proposed Plan or Plans for
Implementation and has been unable to reach unanimity in favor of a Plan, a
member or members of that county board of elections may petition the State
Board of Elections to adopt a plan for it. If petitioned, the State Board may
also receive and consider alternative petitions from another member or members
of that county board. The State Board of Elections may adopt a Plan for that
county. The State Board, in that plan, shall take into consideration factors
including geographic, demographic, and partisan interests of that county.
Any plan adopted by either the county board of elections or the State Board of
Elections under this subsection shall provide for the same days of operation
and same number of hours of operation on each day for all sites in that county
for that election. The requirement of the previous sentence does not apply to
the county board of elections office itself nor, if one‑stop voting is
not conducted at the county board of elections office, to the reasonably
proximate alternate site approved under this subsection."

SECTION 25.2. G.S. 163‑227.2 is
amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(g2)Notwithstanding the requirements of
subsection (g) and (g1) of this section, for any county board of elections that
provided for one or more sites as provided in subsection (g) of this section
during the 2010 or 2012 general election, that county shall provide, at a
minimum, the following:

(1)The county board of elections shall
calculate the number of hours during the 2012 primary election and 2012 general
election that the county provided for absentee ballots to be applied for and
voted under this section by multiplying the number of one‑stop sites by
the number of hours each one‑stop site was open daily and the number of
days that each one‑stop site was open, for each election respectively. For
elections which include a presidential candidate on the primary or general
election ballot, the county shall ensure that at least the same number of hours
offered in 2012 is offered for absentee ballots to be applied for and voted
under this section through a combination of hours and numbers of one‑stop
sites during the primary and general election, respectively.

(2)The county board of elections shall
calculate the number of hours during the 2010 primary election and 2010 general
election that the county provided for absentee ballots to be applied for and
voted under this section by multiplying the number of one‑stop sites by
the number of hours each one‑stop site was open daily and the number of
days that each one‑stop site was open, for each election respectively.
For elections for the General Assembly which do not include a presidential
candidate on the primary or general election ballot, the county shall ensure
that at least the same number of hours offered in 2010 is offered for absentee
ballots to be applied for and voted under this section through a combination of
hours and numbers of one‑stop sites during the primary and general
election, respectively.

The State Board of Elections, to ensure compliance with
this subsection, may approve a one‑stop site in a building that the
county board of elections is not entitled under G.S. 163‑129 to
demand and use as an election‑day voting place, but may deny approval if
a member of that board presents evidence that other equally suitable sites were
available and the use of the sites chosen would unfairly advantage or
disadvantage geographic, demographic, or partisan interests of that county."

PART 26. STANDARDIZE SATELLITE POLLING PLACE APPROVAL

SECTION 26.1.(a) G.S. 163‑130 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑130.
Satellite voting places.

A county board of elections by unanimous vote may,
upon approval of a request submitted in writing to the State Board of
Elections, establish a plan whereby elderly or disabled voters in a precinct
may vote at designated sites within the precinct other than the regular voting
place for that precinct. Any approval under this section is only effective
for one year and shall be annually reviewed for extension. The State Board
of Elections shall approve a county board's proposed plan if:

(1) All the satellite voting places to be used are
listed in the county's written request;

(2) The plan will in the State Board's judgment
overcome a barrier to voting by the elderly or disabled;

(3) Adequate security against fraud is provided for;
and

(4) The plan does not unfairly favor or disfavor voters
with regard to race or party affiliation."

SECTION 26.1.(b). This section becomes effective
January 1, 2014. All plans approved under G.S. 163‑130 prior to that
date shall be reviewed and adopted in accordance with G.S. 163‑130,
as amended by this section.

PART 27. DELETE REFERENCE TO PRECINCT BOUNDARIES AFTER THE
2000 CENSUS

SECTION 27.1. G.S. 163‑132.1 is
repealed.

PART 28. REDUCE NEED FOR SECOND PRIMARY

SECTION 28.1. The Joint Legislative Elections
Oversight Committee shall study the second primary and recommend to the General
Assembly any legislation it deems advisable. The study may include the
following:

(1) Whether to go to a plurality method of determining
the result of the primary.

(2) Whether to reduce the current forty percent (40%)
threshold.

(3) Whether to keep the forty percent (40%) threshold
but also allow a smaller percentage if the margin between first and second
place finisher is substantial.

(4) Whether to have a different system for different
offices such as United States Senator, Governor, and Lieutenant Governor and
other offices.

It may make an interim report prior to the date that the
General Assembly reconvenes the 2013 Regular Session in 2014, and shall make a
final report before the convening of the 2015 Regular Session of the General
Assembly.

PART 29. CLARIFY STATE BOARD DUTY ON CHARACTERISTICS OF BALLOT

SECTION 29.1. G.S. 163‑165.4 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑165.4.
Standards for official ballots.

The State Board of Elections shall seek to ensure that
official ballots throughout the State have all the following characteristics:

(1) Are readily understandable by voters.

(2) Present all candidates and questions in a fair and
nondiscriminatory manner.

(3) Allow every voter to cast a vote in every ballot
item without difficulty.

(4) Facilitate an accurate vote count.

(5) Are uniform in content and format, subject to
varied presentations required or made desirable by different voting systems."

PART 30. SIMPLIFY BALLOT RECORDS

SECTION 30.1. G.S. 163‑165(1) reads as
rewritten:

"(1) "Ballot" means an instrument on which
a voter indicates a choice so that it may be recorded as a vote for or against
a certain candidate or referendum proposal. The term "ballot" may
include a paper ballot to be counted by hand, a paper ballot to be counted on
an electronic scanner, the face of a lever voting machine, the image on a
direct record electronic unit, or aor a paper ballot used on any
other voting system."

SECTION 30.2. G.S. 163‑165 is amended
by adding a new subdivision to read:

"(5a)"Paper ballot" means an
individual paper document that bears marks made by the voter by hand or through
electronic means."

SECTION 30.3. G.S. 163‑165.7(a) and
(d) read as rewritten:

"§ 163‑165.7.
Voting systems: powers and duties of State Board of Elections.

(a) Only voting systems that have been certified by
the State Board of Elections in accordance with the procedures and subject to
the standards set forth in this section and that have not been subsequently
decertified shall be permitted for use in elections in this State. Those
certified voting systems shall be valid in any election held in the State or in
any county, municipality, or other electoral district in the State. Subject to
all other applicable rules adopted by the State Board of Elections and, with
respect to federal elections, subject to all applicable federal regulations
governing voting systems, paper ballots marked by the voter and counted by hand
shall be deemed a certified voting system. The State Board of Elections shall
certify optical scan voting systems, optical scan with ballot markers voting
systems, and direct record electronic voting systems if any of those systems
meet all applicable requirements of federal and State law. The State Board may
certify additional voting systems only if they meet the requirements of the
request for proposal process set forth in this section and only if they
generate either a paper ballot or a paper record by which voters may
verify their votes before casting them and which provides a backup means of
counting the vote that the voter casts. Those voting systems may include
optical scan and direct record electronic (DRE) voting systems.systems
that produce a paper ballot. In consultation with the Office of Information
Technology Services, the State Board shall develop the requests for proposal
subject to the provisions of this Chapter and other applicable State laws.
Among other requirements, the request for proposal shall require at least all
of the following elements:

(1) That the vendor post a bond or letter of credit to
cover damages resulting from defects in the voting system. Damages shall
include, among other items, any costs of conducting a new election attributable
to those defects.

(2) That the voting system comply with all federal
requirements for voting systems.

(3) That the voting system must have the capacity to
include in voting tabulation district returns the votes cast by voters outside
of the voter's voting tabulation district as required by G.S. 163‑132.5G.

(4) With respect to electronic voting systems, that the
voting system generate a paper record ballot of each individual
vote cast, which paper record ballot shall be maintained in a
secure fashion and shall serve as a backup record for purposes of any hand‑to‑eye
count, hand‑to‑eye recount, or other audit. Electronic systems that
employ optical scan technology to count paper ballots shall be deemed to
satisfy this requirement.

(5) With respect to DRE voting systems, that the paper record
ballot generated by the system be viewable by the voter before the
vote is cast electronically, and that the system permit the voter to correct
any discrepancy between the electronic vote and the paper record ballot
before the vote is cast.

…

(d) Subject to the provisions of this Chapter, the
State Board of Elections shall prescribe rules for the adoption, handling,
operation, and honest use of certified voting systems, including all of the
following:

(1) Procedures for county boards of elections to
utilize when recommending the purchase of a certified voting system for use in
that county.

(2) Form of official ballot labels to be used on voting
systems.

(3) Operation and manner of voting on voting systems.

(4) Instruction of precinct officials in the use of
voting systems.

(5) Instruction of voters in the use of voting systems.

(6) Assistance to voters using voting systems.

(7) Duties of custodians of voting systems.

(8) Examination and testing of voting systems in a
public forum in the county before and after use in an election.

(9) Notwithstanding G.S. 132‑1.2, procedures
for the review and examination of any information placed in escrow by a vendor
pursuant to G.S. 163‑165.9A by only the following persons:

a. State Board of Elections.

b. Office of Information Technology Services.

c. The State chairs of each political party recognized
under G.S. 163‑96.

d. The purchasing county.

Each person listed in sub‑subdivisions
a. through d. of this subdivision may designate up to three persons as that
person's agents to review and examine the information. No person shall
designate under this subdivision a business competitor of the vendor whose proprietary
information is being reviewed and examined. For purposes of this review and
examination, any designees under this subdivision and the State party chairs
shall be treated as public officials under G.S. 132‑2.

(10) With respect to electronic voting systems,
procedures to maintain the integrity of both the electronic vote count and the
paper record.ballot. Those procedures shall at a minimum include
procedures to protect against the alteration of the paper record ballot
after a machine vote has been recorded and procedures to prevent removal by
the voter from the voting enclosure of any paper record or copy of an individually
voted paper ballot or of any other device or item whose removal from the
voting enclosure could permit compromise of the integrity of either the machine
count or the paper record.ballot.

…."

SECTION 30.4. G.S. 163‑166.7(c) reads
as rewritten:

"(c) The State Board of Elections shall promulgate
rules for the process of voting. Those rules shall emphasize the appearance as
well as the reality of dignity, good order, impartiality, and the convenience
and privacy of the voter. Those rules, at a minimum, shall include procedures
to ensure that all the following occur:

(1) The voting system remains secure throughout the
period voting is being conducted.

(2) Only properly voted official ballots or paper
records of individual voted ballots are introduced into the voting system.

(3) Except as provided by G.S. 163‑166.9, no
official ballots leave the voting enclosure during the time voting is being
conducted there. The rules shall also provide that during that time no one
shall remove from the voting enclosure any paper record or copy of an
individually voted ballot or of any other device or item whose removal from the
voting enclosure could permit compromise of the integrity of either the machine
count or the paper record.

(4) All improperly voted official ballots or paper
records of individual voted ballots are returned to the precinct officials
and marked as spoiled.

(5) Voters leave the voting place promptly after
voting.

(6) Voters not clearly eligible to vote in the precinct
but who seek to vote there are given proper assistance in voting a provisional
official ballot or guidance to another voting place where they are eligible to
vote.

(7) Information gleaned through the voting process that
would be helpful to the accurate maintenance of the voter registration records
is recorded and delivered to the county board of elections.

(8) The registration records are kept secure. The State
Board of Elections shall permit the use of electronic registration records in
the voting place in lieu of or in addition to a paper pollbook or other
registration record.

(9) Party observers are given access as provided by G.S. 163‑45
to current information about which voters have voted.

(10) The voter, before voting, shall sign that voter's
name on the pollbook, other voting record, or voter authorization document. If
the voter is unable to sign, a precinct official shall enter the person's name
on the same document before the voter votes."

SECTION 30.5. G.S. 163‑182.1(b)(1)
reads as rewritten:

"(1) Provide for a sample hand‑to‑eye
count of the paper ballots or paper records of a statewide ballot item
in every county. The presidential ballot item shall be the subject of the
sampling in a presidential election. If there is no statewide ballot item, the
State Board shall provide a process for selecting district or local ballot
items to adequately sample the electorate. The State Board shall approve in an
open meeting the procedure for randomly selecting the sample precincts for each
election. The random selection of precincts for any county shall be done
publicly after the initial count of election returns for that county is
publicly released or 24 hours after the polls close on election day, whichever
is earlier. The sample chosen by the State Board shall be of one or more full
precincts, full counts of mailed absentee ballots, full counts of one or more
one‑stop early voting sites, or a combination. The size of the sample of
each category shall be chosen to produce a statistically significant result and
shall be chosen after consultation with a statistician. The actual units shall
be chosen at random. In the event of a material discrepancy between the
electronic or mechanical count and a hand‑to‑eye count, the hand‑to‑eye
count shall control, except where paper ballots or records have been
lost or destroyed or where there is another reasonable basis to conclude that
the hand‑to‑eye count is not the true count. If the discrepancy
between the hand‑to‑eye count and the mechanical or electronic
count is significant, a complete hand‑to‑eye count shall be
conducted."

SECTION 30.6. G.S. 163‑182.2(b)(1a)
reads as rewritten:

"(1a) For optical scan and direct record electronic
voting systems, and for any other voting systems in which ballots are counted
other than on paper by hand and eye, those rules shall provide for a sample
hand‑to‑eye count of the paper ballots or paper records of a
sampling of a statewide ballot item in every county. The presidential ballot
item shall be the subject of the sampling in a presidential election. If there
is no statewide ballot item, the State Board shall provide a process for
selecting district or local ballot items to adequately sample the electorate.
The State Board shall approve in an open meeting the procedure for randomly
selecting the sample precincts for each election. The random selection of
precincts for any county shall be done publicly after the initial count of
election returns for that county is publicly released or 24 hours after the
polls close on election day, whichever is earlier. The sample chosen by the
State Board shall be of one or more full precincts, full counts of mailed
absentee ballots, and full counts of one or more one‑stop early voting
sites. The size of the sample of each category shall be chosen to produce a
statistically significant result and shall be chosen after consultation with a
statistician. The actual units shall be chosen at random. In the event of a
material discrepancy between the electronic or mechanical count and a hand‑to‑eye
count, the hand‑to‑eye count shall control, except where paper
ballots or records have been lost or destroyed or where there is another
reasonable basis to conclude that the hand‑to‑eye count is not the
true count. If the discrepancy between the hand‑to‑eye count and
the mechanical or electronic count is significant, a complete hand‑to‑eye
count shall be conducted. The sample count need not be done on election night."

SECTION 30.7. G.S. 163‑227.2(e1) reads
as rewritten:

"(e1) If a county uses a voting system with
retrievable ballots, that county's board of elections may by resolution elect
to conduct one‑stop absentee voting according to the provisions of this
subsection. In a county in which the board has opted to do so, a one‑stop
voter shall cast the ballot and then shall deposit the ballot in the ballot box
or voting system in the same manner as if such box or system was in use in a
precinct on election day. At the end of each business day, or at any time when
there will be no employee or officer of the board of elections on the premises,
the ballot box or system shall be secured in accordance with a plan approved by
the State Board of Elections, which shall include that no additional ballots
have been placed in the box or system. Any county board desiring to conduct one‑stop
voting according to this subsection shall submit a plan for doing so to the
State Board of Elections. The State Board shall adopt standards for conducting
one‑stop voting under this subsection and shall approve any county plan
that adheres to its standards. The county board shall adhere to its State Board‑approved
plan. The plan shall provide that each one‑stop ballot shall have a
ballot number on it in accordance with G.S. 163‑230.1(a2), or shall
have an equivalent identifier to allow for retrievability. The standards
shall address retrievability in one‑stop voting on direct record
electronic equipment where no paper ballot is used."

SECTION 30.8. Any direct record electronic (DRE)
voting systems currently certified by the State Board of Elections which do not
use paper ballots shall be decertified and shall not be used in any election
held on or after January 1, 2018. Decertification of a DRE voting system that does
not use paper ballots may not be appealed to the Superior Court of Wake County
pursuant to G.S. 163‑165.7(b).

SECTION 30.9. This Part becomes effective January
1, 2018.

PART 31. ORDER OF PARTIES ON THE BALLOT

SECTION 31.1. G.S. 163‑165.6(d) reads
as rewritten:

"(d) Order of Party Candidates on General Election
Official Ballot. – Candidates in any ballot item on a general election official
ballot shall appear in the following order:

(1) Nominees of political parties that reflect at least
five percent (5%) of statewide voter registration, according to the most recent
statistical report published by the State Board of Elections, in alphabetical
order by party beginning with the party whose nominee for Governor received
the most votes in the most recent gubernatorial election, and in
alphabetical order within the party.

(2) Nominees of other political parties, in
alphabetical order by party and in alphabetical order within the party.

(3) Unaffiliated candidates, in alphabetical order."

PART 32. VOTE THE PERSON NOT THE PARTY

SECTION 32.1. G.S. 163‑165.6(e) reads
as rewritten:

"(e) No Straight‑Party Voting. – Each
official ballot shall not contain any place that allows a voter with one
mark to vote for the candidates of a party for more than one office. be
arranged so that the voter may cast one vote for a party's nominees for all
offices except President and Vice President. A vote for President and Vice
President shall be cast separately from a straight‑party vote. The
official ballot shall be prepared so that a voter may cast a straight‑party
vote, but then make an exception to that straight‑party vote by voting
for a candidate not nominated by that party or by voting for fewer than all the
candidates nominated by that party. Instructions for general election ballots
shall clearly advise voters of the rules in this subsection and of the statutes
providing for the counting of ballots."

SECTION 32.2. G.S. 163‑182.1(a)(7) is
repealed.

PART 33. REGULATE EXTENSION OF CLOSE OF POLLS

SECTION 33.1. G.S. 163‑166.01 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑166.01.
Hours for voting.

In every election, the voting place shall be open at 6:30
A.M. and shall be closed at 7:30 P.M. In extraordinary circumstances, the
county board of elections may direct that the polls remain open until 8:30 P.M.
If the polls are delayed in opening for more than 15 minutes, or are
interrupted for more than 15 minutes after opening, the State Board of
Elections may extend the closing time by an equal number of minutes. As
authorized by law, the State Board of Elections shall be available either in
person or by teleconference on the day of election to approve any such
extension. If any voter is in line to vote at the time the polls are
closed, that voter shall be permitted to vote. No voter shall be permitted to
vote who arrives at the voting place after the closing of the polls.

Any voter who votes after the statutory poll closing time of
7:30 P.M. by virtue of a federal or State court order or any other lawful
order, including an order of a county board of elections, shall be allowed to
vote, under the provisions of that order, only by using a provisional official
ballot. Any special provisional official ballots cast under this section shall
be separated, counted, and held apart from other provisional ballots cast by
other voters not under the effect of the order extending the closing time of
the voting place. If the court order has not been reversed or stayed by the
time of the county canvass, the total for that category of provisional ballots
shall be added to the official canvass."

PART 34. ASSISTANCE TO VOTER

SECTION 34.1. The Joint Legislative Elections
Oversight Committee shall study ways to improve protections for persons
requiring assistance in voting places and recommend to the General Assembly any
legislation it deems advisable. It may make an interim report prior to the date
that the General Assembly reconvenes the 2013 Regular Session in 2014 and shall
make a final report before the convening of the 2015 Regular Session of the
General Assembly.

PART 35. DATE OF PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY

SECTION 35.1. G.S. 163‑213.2 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑213.2.
Primary to be held; date; qualifications and registration of voters.

On the Tuesday after the first Monday in May, 1992, and every
four years thereafter, the voters of this State shall be given an opportunity
to express their preference for the person to be the presidential candidate of
their political party.party, except that if South Carolina holds its presidential
primary before the 15th day of March, the North Carolina presidential
preference primary shall be held on the Tuesday after the first South Carolina
presidential preference primary of that year.

Any person otherwise qualified who will become qualified by
age to vote in the general election held in the same year of the presidential
preference primary shall be entitled to register and vote in the presidential
preference primary. Such persons may register not earlier than 60 days nor
later than the last day for making application to register under G.S. 163‑82.6
prior to the said primary. In addition, persons who will become qualified by
age to register and vote in the general election for which the primary is held,
who do not register during the special period may register to vote after such
period as if they were qualified on the basis of age, but until they are
qualified by age to vote, they may vote only in primary elections."

SECTION 35.2. G.S. 163‑213.4 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑213.4.
Nomination by State Board of Elections.

By the first Tuesday in February of the year preceding No
later than 90 days preceding the North Carolina presidential preference
primary, the chair of each political party shall submit to the State Board of
Elections a list of its presidential candidates to be placed on the
presidential preference primary ballot. The list must be comprised of
candidates whose candidacy is generally advocated and recognized in the news
media throughout the United States or in North Carolina, unless any such
candidate executes and files with the chair of the political party an affidavit
stating without qualification that the candidate is not and does not intend to
become a candidate for nomination in the North Carolina Presidential Preference
Primary Election. The State Board of Elections shall prepare and publish a list
of the names of the presidential candidates submitted. The State Board of
Elections shall convene in Raleigh on the first Tuesday in March preceding the
presidential preference primary election. At the meeting required by this
section, the State Board of Elections shall nominate as presidential primary
candidates all candidates affiliated with a political party, recognized
pursuant to the provisions of Article 9 of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes,
who have been submitted to the State Board of Elections. Immediately upon
completion of these requirements, the Board shall release to the news media all
such nominees selected. Provided, however, nothing shall prohibit the partial
selection of nominees prior to the meeting required by this section, if all
provisions herein have been complied with."

PART 36. ADDITIONAL CANDIDATES ON PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY BALLOT

SECTION 36.1. G.S. 163‑213.4 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑213.4.
Nomination by State Board of Elections.

By the first Tuesday in February of the year preceding the
North Carolina presidential preference primary, the chair of each political
party shall submit to the State Board of Elections a list of its presidential
candidates to be placed on the presidential preference primary ballot. The list
must be comprised of candidates whose candidacy is generally advocated and
recognized in the news media throughout the United States or in North Carolina,
unless any such candidate executes and files with the chair of the political party
an affidavit stating without qualification that the candidate is not and does
not intend to become a candidate for nomination in the North Carolina
Presidential Preference Primary Election. The State Board of Elections shall
prepare and publish a list of the names of the presidential candidates
submitted. The State Board of Elections shall convene in Raleigh on the first
Tuesday in March preceding the presidential preference primary election. At the
meeting required by this section, the State Board of Elections shall nominate
as presidential primary candidates all candidates affiliated with a political
party, recognized pursuant to the provisions of Article 9 of Chapter 163 of the
General Statutes, who have been submitted to the State Board of Elections. Additionally,
the State Board of Elections, by vote of at least three of its members in the
affirmative, may nominate as a presidential primary candidate any other person
affiliated with a political party that it finds is generally advocated and
recognized in the news media throughout the United States or in North Carolina
as candidates for the nomination by that party. Immediately upon completion
of these requirements, the Board shall release to the news media all such
nominees selected. Provided, however, nothing shall prohibit the partial
selection of nominees prior to the meeting required by this section, if all
provisions herein have been complied with."

SECTION 38.1.(a) Article 22D of Chapter 163 of
the General Statutes is repealed, except that G.S. 163‑278.69 is
repealed effective upon exhaustion of the funds for publication of the Judicial
Voter Guide.

SECTION 38.1.(b) Article 22J of Chapter 163 of
the General Statutes is repealed.

SECTION 38.1.(c) Article 22B of Chapter 163 of
the General Statutes is repealed.

SECTION 38.1.(d) G.S. 84‑34 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 84‑34.
Membership fees and list of members.

Every active member of the North Carolina State Bar shall,
prior to the first day of July of each year, pay to the secretary‑treasurer
an annual membership fee in an amount determined by the Council but not to
exceed three hundred dollars ($300.00), plus a surcharge of fifty dollars
($50.00) for the implementation of Article 22D of Chapter 163 of the General
Statutes, and every member shall notify the secretary‑treasurer of
the member's correct mailing address. Any member who fails to pay the required
dues by the last day of June of each year shall be subject to a late fee in an
amount determined by the Council but not to exceed thirty dollars ($30.00). All
dues for prior years shall be as were set forth in the General Statutes then in
effect. The membership fee shall be regarded as a service charge for the
maintenance of the several services authorized by this Article, and shall be in
addition to all fees required in connection with admissions to practice, and in
addition to all license taxes required by law. The fee shall not be prorated:
Provided, that no fee shall be required of an attorney licensed after this
Article shall have gone into effect until the first day of January of the
calendar year following that in which the attorney was licensed; but this
proviso shall not apply to attorneys from other states admitted on certificate.
The fees shall be disbursed by the secretary‑treasurer on the order of
the Council. The fifty‑dollar ($50.00) surcharge shall be sent on a
monthly schedule to the State Board of Elections. The secretary‑treasurer
shall annually, at a time and in a law magazine or daily newspaper to be
prescribed by the Council, publish an account of the financial transactions of
the Council in a form to be prescribed by it. The secretary‑treasurer
shall compile and keep currently correct from the names and mailing addresses
forwarded to the secretary‑treasurer and from any other available sources
of information a list of members of the North Carolina State Bar and furnish to
the clerk of the superior court in each county, not later than the first day of
October in each year, a list showing the name and address of each attorney for
that county who has not complied with the provisions of this Article. The name
of each of the active members who are in arrears in the payment of membership
fees shall be furnished to the presiding judge at the next term of the superior
court after the first day of October of each year, by the clerk of the superior
court of each county wherein the member or members reside, and the court shall
thereupon take action that is necessary and proper. The names and addresses of
attorneys so certified shall be kept available to the public. The Secretary of
Revenue is hereby directed to supply the secretary‑treasurer, from
records of license tax payments, with any information for which the secretary‑treasurer
may call in order to enable the secretary‑treasurer to comply with this
requirement.

The list submitted to several clerks of the superior court
shall also be submitted to the Council at its October meeting of each year and
it shall take the action thereon that is necessary and proper."

SECTION 38.1.(e) G.S. 105‑159.1 is
repealed.

SECTION 38.1.(f) G.S. 105‑159.2 is
repealed.

SECTION 38.1.(g) G.S. 163‑278.5 reads
as rewritten:

"§ 163‑278.5.
Scope of Article; severability.

The provisions of this Article apply to primaries and
elections for North Carolina offices and to North Carolina referenda and do not
apply to primaries and elections for federal offices or offices in other States
or to non‑North Carolina referenda. Any provision in this Article that
regulates a non‑North Carolina entity does so only to the extent that the
entity's actions affect elections for North Carolina offices or North Carolina
referenda.

The provisions of this Article are severable. If any provision
is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity does not
affect other provisions of the Article that can be given effect without the
invalid provision.

This section applies to Articles 22B, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G,
22H, 22J, and 22M of the General Statutes to the same extent that it
applies to this Article."

SECTION 38.1.(h) G.S. 163‑278.13(e)
reads as rewritten:

"§ 163‑278.13.
Limitation on contributions.

…

(e) Except as provided in subsections (e2), (e3),
and (e4) of this section, this This section shall not apply to any
national, State, district or county executive committee of any political party.
For the purposes of this section only, the term "political party"
means only those political parties officially recognized under G.S. 163‑96."

SECTION 38.1.(i) G.S. 163‑278.13(e2)
is repealed.

SECTION 38.1.(j) G.S. 163‑278.13(e4)
is repealed.

SECTION 38.1.(k) G.S. 163‑278.23
reads as rewritten:

"§ 163‑278.23.
Duties of Executive Director of Board.

…

This section applies to Articles 22B, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G,
22H, and 22M of the General Statutes to the same extent that it applies to this
Article."

SECTION 38.1.(l) G.S. 163‑278.99E(d)
is repealed effective upon exhaustion of the funds for publication of the
Judicial Voter Guide in G.S. 163‑278.69.

SECTION 38.1.(m) The State Board of Elections
shall use the money in the North Carolina Public Campaign Fund to only publish
Judicial Voter Guides as described in G.S. 163‑278.69 until the
funds have been exhausted.

SECTION 38.1.(n) The secretary‑treasurer of
the North Carolina State Bar shall remit any payments of the fifty‑dollar
($50.00) surcharge payable for the taxable year January 1, 2013, to the State
Board of Elections, and the State Board of Elections must credit the funds
received to the North Carolina Public Campaign Fund.

SECTION 38.1.(o) The State Board of Elections
shall notify the Revisor of Statutes when the funds have been exhausted for
publication of the Judicial Voter Guide.

SECTION 38.1.(p) Subsection (d) of this section is
effective for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2013. The
remainder of this section becomes effective July 1, 2013.

PART 39. EXPEDITE VOTER LIST MAINTENANCE

SECTION 39.1.(a) G.S. 163‑33 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑33.
Powers and duties of county boards of elections.

The county boards of elections within their respective
jurisdictions shall exercise all powers granted to such boards in this Chapter,
and they shall perform all the duties imposed upon them by law, which shall
include the following:

…

(14)To make forms available for near relatives
or personal representatives of a deceased voter's estate to provide signed
statements of the status of a deceased voter to return to the board of
elections of the county in which the deceased voter was registered. Forms may
be provided, upon request, to any of the following: near relatives, personal
representatives of a deceased voter's estate, funeral directors, or funeral
service licensees."

SECTION 39.1.(b) G.S. 163‑82.14(b)
reads as rewritten:

"(b) Death. – The Department of Health and Human
Services shall furnish free of charge to the State Board of Elections every
month, in a format prescribed by the State Board of Elections, the names of
deceased persons who were residents of the State. The State Board of Elections
shall distribute every month to each county board of elections the names on
that list of deceased persons who were residents of that county. The Department
of Health and Human Services shall base each list upon information supplied by death
certifications it received during the preceding month. Upon the receipt of
those names, each county board of elections shall remove from its voter
registration records any person the list shows to be dead. Each county board
of elections shall also remove from its voter registration records a person identified
as deceased by a signed statement of a near relative or personal representative
of the estate of the deceased voter. The county board need not send any
notice to the address of the person so removed."

SECTION 39.2. Article 13A of Chapter 90 of the
General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 90‑210.25C.
Notification forms for deceased voters.

(a)At the time funeral arrangements are
made, a funeral director or funeral service licensee is encouraged to make
available to near relatives of the deceased a form upon which the near relative
may report the status of the deceased voter to the board of elections of the
county in which the deceased was a registered voter.

(b)A funeral director or funeral service
licensee may obtain forms for reporting the status of deceased voters from the
county board of elections."

SECTION 39.3. This Part becomes effective October
1, 2013.

PART 41. CAMPAIGN FINANCE ELECTRONIC REPORTING

SECTION 41.1. The Joint Legislative Elections
Oversight Committee shall study requiring campaign finance reports to be filed
electronically and any issues with implementation of such a requirement, and
recommend to the General Assembly any legislation it deems advisable. It may
make an interim report prior to the date that the General Assembly reconvenes
the 2013 Regular Session in 2014, and shall make a final report before the
convening of the 2015 Regular Session of the General Assembly.

PART 42. CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS

SECTION 42.1. Effective for contributions made on
or after January 1, 2014, G.S. 163‑278.13(a), (b), and (c) read as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑278.13.
Limitation on contributions.

(a) No individual, political committee, or other
entity shall contribute to any candidate or other political committee any money
or make any other contribution in any election in excess of four thousand
dollars ($4,000) five thousand dollars ($5,000) for that election.

(b) No candidate or political committee shall accept
or solicit any contribution from any individual, other political committee, or
other entity of any money or any other contribution in any election in excess
of four thousand dollars ($4,000) five thousand dollars ($5,000) for
that election.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a)
and (b) of this section, it shall be lawful for a candidate or a candidate's spouse,
parents, brothers and sistersspouse to make a contribution to the
candidate or to the candidate's treasurer of any amount of money or to make any
other contribution in any election in excess of four thousand dollars
($4,000) five thousand dollars ($5,000) for that election."

SECTION 42.2. G.S. 163‑278.13 is
amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(a1)Effective for each odd‑numbered
calendar year beginning in 2015, the dollar amount of the contribution
limitation established by subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this subsection
shall be increased as provided in this subsection. On July 1 of each even‑numbered
year, the State Board of Elections shall calculate from data from the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor Register
the percent difference between the price index for the July 1 of the previous
even‑numbered year. That percentage increase shall be multiplied by the
previous dollar amount contribution limit, that number added to the previous
dollar amount contribution limit, and the total shall become effective with
respect to contributions made or accepted on or after January 1 of the next odd‑numbered
year. If the amount after adjustment is not a multiple of one hundred dollars ($100.00),
the total shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of one hundred dollars
($100.00). As used in this subsection the term "price index"
means the average over a calendar year of the Consumer Price Index (all items –
United States city average) published monthly by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. The revised amount of the dollar limit of contributions shall
remain in effect for two calendar years until the next adjustment is made. The
State Board of Elections shall publish the revised amount in the North Carolina
Register and shall notify the Reviser of Statutes who shall adjust the dollar
amounts in subsections (a), (b), and (c) of this section."

SECTION 42.3. G.S. 163‑278.13(e3) is
repealed.

PART 43 USE OF BUILDING FUNDS

SECTION 43.1. G.S. 163‑278.19B(4)
reads as rewritten:

"(4) The donations deposited in the separate
segregated bank account for the political party headquarters building fund will
be spent only to purchase a principal headquarters building, to
construct a principal headquarters building, to renovate a principal headquarters
building, to pay a mortgage on a principal headquarters building, or to
repay donors if a principal headquarters building is not purchased, constructed,
or renovated. renovated, or to pay building rent or monthly or
bimonthly utility expenses incurred to operate the principal headquarters
building. Donations deposited into that account shall be used solely for
the purposes set forth in the preceding sentence, and specifically shall not
be used for headquarters rent, utilities, or equipment other than fixtures.fixtures,
personnel compensation, or travel or fundraising expenses or requirements of
any kind. Notwithstanding the above, personnel compensation and in‑kind
benefits may be paid to no more than three personnel whose functions are
primarily administrative in nature, such as providing accounting, payroll, or
campaign finance reporting services, for the party and whose job functions
require no more than ten percent (10%) of work time to be spent on political
advocacy each calendar year."

PART 44. STAND BY YOUR
AD

SECTION 44.1. G.S. 163‑278.39A is
repealed.

SECTION 44.2. G.S. 163‑278.39(b) reads
as rewritten:

"(b) Size Requirements. – In a print media
advertisement covered by subsection (a) of this section, the height of all
disclosure statements required by that subsection shall constitute at least
five percent (5%) of the height of the printed space of the advertisement,
provided that the type shall in no event be less than 12 points in size. In an
advertisement in a newspaper or a newspaper insert, the total height of the
disclosure statement need not constitute five percent of the printed space of
the advertisement if the type of the disclosure statement is at least 28 points
in size. If a single advertisement consists of multiple pages, folds, or faces,
the disclosure requirement of this section applies only to one page, fold, or
face. In a television advertisement covered by subsection (a) of this section,
the visual disclosure legend shall constitute four percent (4%) of vertical
picture height in size. size, and where the television advertisement
that appears is paid for by a candidate or candidate campaign committee, the
visual disclosure legend shall appear simultaneously with an easily identifiable
photograph of the candidate for at least two seconds. In a radio
advertisement covered by subsection (a) of this section, the disclosure
statement shall last at least two seconds, provided the statement is spoken so
that its contents may be easily understood."

PART 45. State board
of elections

SECTION 45.1.(a) G.S. 163‑19(a) reads
as rewritten:

"(a) The State Board of Elections shall consist of
five registered voters whose terms of office shall begin on May 1, 1969, and
shall continue for four years, and until their successors are appointed and
qualified. The Governor shall appoint the members of this Board and likewise
shall appoint their successors every four years at the expiration of each four‑year
term. No person may serve more than two consecutive four‑year terms."

SECTION 45.1.(b) This section is effective when
it becomes law and applies to members appointed on or after that date.

PART 47. TIGHTENING OF LOBBYING BUNDLING

SECTION 47.1.(a) G.S. 163‑278.13C
reads as rewritten:

"§ 163‑278.13C.
Campaign contributions prohibition.

(a) No lobbyist may make a contribution as defined in G.S. 163‑278.6
to a candidate or candidate campaign committee as defined in G.S. 163‑278.38Z
when that candidate meets any of the following criteria:

(1) Is a legislator as defined in G.S. 120C‑100.

(2) Is a public servant as defined in G.S. 138A‑3(30)a.
and G.S. 120C‑104.

(b) No lobbyist may do any of the following with
respect to a candidate or candidate campaign committee described in
subdivisions (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section:

(1)collectCollect a contribution or multiple
contributions from one or multiple more contributors,contributors
intended for that candidate or candidate campaign committee.

(2)takeTake possession of such
a contribution or multiple contributions, contributions
intended for that candidate or candidate campaign committee.

(3)or transfer Transfer or deliverdeliverthe a collected contribution or multiple contributions to
the intended recipient.candidate or candidate campaign committee.
This section shall apply only to contributions to a candidate or candidate
campaign committee as defined in G.S. 163‑278.38Z when that
candidate is a legislator as defined in G.S. 120C‑100 or a public servant
as defined in G.S. 138A‑3(30)a.

(c) This section shall not apply to a lobbyist, who
has filed a notice of candidacy for office under G.S. 163‑106 or
Article 11 of Chapter 163 of the General Statutes or has been nominated under G.S. 163‑114
or G.S. 163‑98, making a contribution to that lobbyist's candidate
campaign committee.

(d) For purposes of this section, the term "lobbyist"
shall mean an individual registered as a lobbyist under Chapter 120C of the
General Statutes."

SECTION 47.1.(b) This section becomes effective
October 1, 2013, and applies to contributions made on or after that date.

PART 48. CANDIDATE SPECIFIC COMMUNICATIONS

SECTION 48.1. Article 22G of Chapter 163 of the
General Statutes is repealed.

SECTION 48.2. G.S. 163‑278.5 reads as rewritten:

"§ 163‑278.5.
Scope of Article; severability.

The provisions of this Article apply to primaries and
elections for North Carolina offices and to North Carolina referenda and do not
apply to primaries and elections for federal offices or offices in other States
or to non‑North Carolina referenda. Any provision in this Article that
regulates a non‑North Carolina entity does so only to the extent that the
entity's actions affect elections for North Carolina offices or North Carolina
referenda.

The provisions of this Article are severable. If any
provision is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity
does not affect other provisions of the Article that can be given effect
without the invalid provision.

This section applies to Articles 22B, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G, 22H,
22J, and 22M of the General Statutes to the same extent that it applies to
this Article."

SECTION 48.3. G.S. 163‑278.23 reads as
rewritten:

"§ 163‑278.23.
Duties of Executive Director of Board.

…

This section applies to Articles 22B, 22D, 22E, 22F, 22G, 22H,
and 22M of the General Statutes to the same extent that it applies to this
Article."

SECTION 48.4. Article 22H of Chapter 163 of the
General Statutes is repealed.

(a) Residence Period for State Elections. – Every
person born in the United States, and every person who has been naturalized,
and who shall have resided in the State of North Carolina and in the precinct,
ward, or other election district precinct in which the person offers
to vote for 30 days next preceding an election, shall, if otherwise qualified
as prescribed in this Chapter, be qualified to vote in any election held in
this State. the precinct in which the person resides. Removal from
one precinct, ward, or other election district precinct to
another in this State shall not operate to deprive any person of the right to
vote in the precinct, ward, or other election district precinct from
which he the person has removed until 30 days after the person's
removal.

Except as provided in this Chapter, the following classes of
persons shall not be allowed to vote in this State:

(1) Persons under 18 years of age.

(2) Any person adjudged guilty of a felony against this
State or the United States, or adjudged guilty of a felony in another state
that also would be a felony if it had been committed in this State, unless that
person shall be first restored to the rights of citizenship in the manner
prescribed by law.

(b) Precincts and Election Districts.Precincts.
– For purposes of qualification to vote in an election, a person's residence in
a precinct, ward, or election districtprecinct shall be
determined in accordance with G.S. 163‑57. When an election
district encompasses more than one precinct, then for purposes of those offices
to be elected from that election district a person shall also be deemed to be
resident in the election district which includes the precinct in which that
person resides. An election district may include a portion of a county, an
entire county, a portion of the State, or the entire State. When a precinct has
been divided among two or more election districts for purposes of elections to
certain offices, then with respect to elections to those offices a person shall
be deemed to be resident in only that election district which includes the area
of the precinct in which that person resides. Qualification to vote in
referenda shall be treated the same as qualification for elections to fill
offices.

(c) Elections. – For purposes of the 30‑day
residence requirement to vote in an election in subsection (a) of this section,
the term "election" means the day of the primary, second primary,
general election, special election, or referendum."

SECTION 49.3. G.S. 163‑166.11(5) reads
as rewritten:

"(5) The county board of elections shall count the
individual's provisional official ballot for all ballot items on which it
determines that the individual was eligible under State or federal law to vote.vote,
except that the ballot shall not be counted if the voter did not vote in the
proper precinct under G.S. 163‑55, including a central location as
provided by that section."

SECTION 49.4 G.S. 163‑182.2(a)(4)
reads as rewritten:

"(4) Provisional official ballots shall be counted
by the county board of elections before the canvass. If the county board finds
that an individual voting a provisional official ballot is not eligible to vote
in one or more ballot items on the official ballot, the board shall not count
the official ballot in those ballot items, but shall count the official ballot
in any ballot items for which the individual is eligible to vote. Eligibility
shall be determined by whether the voter is registered in the county as
provided in G.S. 163‑82.1 and whether the voter is qualified by
residency to vote in the election district precinct as provided
in G.S. 163‑55 and G.S. 163‑57. If a voter was properly
registered to vote in the election by the county board, no mistake of an
election official in giving the voter a ballot or in failing to comply with G.S. 163‑82.15
or G.S. 163‑166.11 shall serve to prevent the counting of the vote
on any ballot item the voter was eligible by registration and qualified by
residency to vote."

PART 50. ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATION

SECTION 50.1. G.S. 163‑278.6(8j) reads
as rewritten:

"(8j) The term "electioneering communication"
means any broadcast, cable, or satellite communication, or mass mailing, or
telephone bank that has all the following characteristics:

a. Refers to a clearly identified candidate for
elected office.

b. Is In the case of the general election in
November of the even‑numbered year is aired or transmitted after
September 15 of that year, and in the case of any other election is aired
or transmitted within 60 days of the time set for absentee voting to begin
pursuant to G.S. 163‑227.2 in an election for that office.

c. May be received by either:

1. 50,000 or more individuals in the State in an
election for statewide office or 7,500 or more individuals in any other
election if in the form of broadcast, cable, or satellite communication.

2. 20,000 or more households, cumulative per election,
in a statewide election or 2,500 households, cumulative per election, in any
other election if in the form of mass mailing or telephone bank."

PART 51. ELIMINATE INSTANT‑RUNOFF FOR LATE JUDICIAL
VACANCIES

SECTION 51.1. G.S. 163‑329(b1) reads
as rewritten:

"(b1) Method for Vacancy Election. – If a vacancy for
the office of justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals, or
judge of the superior court occurs more than 60 days before the general
election and after the opening of the filing period for the primary, then the
State Board of Elections shall designate a special filing period of one week
for candidates for the office. If more than two candidates file and qualify for
the office in accordance with G.S. 163‑323, then the Board shall
conduct the election for the office as follows:

(1) When the vacancy described in this section occurs
more than 63 days before the date of the second primary for members of the
General Assembly, a special primary shall be held on the same day as the second
primary. The two candidates with the most votes in the special primary shall
have their names placed on the ballot for the general election held on the same
day as the general election for members of the General Assembly.

(2) When the vacancy described in this section occurs
less than 64 days before the date of the second primary, a general election for
all the candidates shall be held on the same day as the general election for
members of the General Assembly and the results shall be determined on a
plurality basis as provided by G.S. 163‑292.the "instant
runoff voting" method shall be used to determine the winner. Under "instant
runoff voting," voters rank up to three of the candidates by order of
preference, first, second, or third. If the candidate with the greatest number
of first‑choice votes receives more than fifty percent (50%) of the first‑choice
votes, that candidate wins. If no candidate receives that minimum number, the
two candidates with the greatest number of first‑choice votes advance to
a second round of counting. In this round, each ballot counts as a vote for
whichever of the two final candidates is ranked highest by the voter. The
candidate with the most votes in the second round wins the election. If more
than one seat is to be filled in the same race, the voter votes the same way as
if one seat were to be filled. The counting is the same as when one seat is to
be filled, with one or two rounds as needed, except that counting is done
separately for each seat to be filled. The first count results in the first
winner. Then the second count proceeds without the name of the first winner.
This process results in the second winner. For each additional seat to be
filled, an additional count is done without the names of the candidates who
have already won. In multi‑seat contests, the State Board of Elections
may give the voter more than three choices.

(3)If two or more candidates receiving the
highest number of votes each receive the same number of votes, the board of
elections shall resolve the tie in accordance with G.S. 163‑182.8."

PART 52. IDENTIFYING PROVISIONAL BALLOTS AS SUCH

SECTION 52.1. Article 14A of Chapter 163 of the
General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 163‑166.11A.
Notation on provisional ballot.

Whenever a voter is permitted to vote a provisional
ballot, the election official issuing the ballot shall annotate in writing or
other means on the ballot that it is a provisional ballot."

PART 53. ELECTION CYCLE AND REPORTING CHANGES

SECTION 53.1.(a) G.S. 163‑278.13(d)
reads as rewritten:

"(d) For the purposes of this section, the term "an
election" means the period of time from January 1 of an odd‑numbered
year throughanythe day of the primary, the day after the
primary through the day of the second primary, or the day after the
primary through December 31 of the next even‑numbered year,general
election in which the candidate or political committee may be involved,
without regard to whether the candidate is opposed or unopposed in the
election, except that where a candidate is not on the ballot in a second
primary, that second primary is not "an election" with respect to
that candidate."

SECTION 53.1.(c) This section becomes effective
January 1, 2014.

PART 54. DEFINITION OF POLITICAL COMMITTEE IN CAMPAIGN
FINANCE ACT

SECTION 54.1. The Joint Legislative Elections
Oversight Committee shall study establishing a threshold for the creation of a
political committee and recommend to the General Assembly any legislation it
deems advisable. It may make an interim report prior to the date that the
General Assembly reconvenes the 2013 Regular Session in 2014, and shall make a
final report before the convening of the 2015 Regular Session of the General
Assembly.

PART 55. ALTER CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTING SCHEDULE

SECTION 55.1. The Joint Legislative Elections
Oversight Committee shall study conforming political committees, electioneering
communications, and independent expenditures reporting schedules to similar
dates and information, and recommend to the General Assembly any legislation it
deems advisable. It may make an interim report prior to the date that the
General Assembly reconvenes the 2013 Regular Session in 2014, and shall make a
final report before the convening of the 2015 Regular Session of the General
Assembly.

PART 56. DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDIA ADVERTISEMENTS

SECTION 56.1. G.S. 163‑278.39(a) reads
as rewritten:

"(a) Basic Requirements. – It shall be unlawful
for any sponsor to sponsor an advertisement in the print media or on radio or
television that constitutes an expenditure, independent expenditure,
electioneering communication, or contribution required to be disclosed under
this Article unless all the following conditions are met:

(1) It bears the legend or includes the statement: "Paid
for by ______________ [Name of candidate, candidate campaign committee, political
party organization, political action committee, referendum committee,
individual, or other sponsor]." In television advertisements, this
disclosure shall be made by visual legend.

(2) The name used in the labeling required in
subdivision (1) of this subsection is the name that appears on the statement of
organization as required in G.S. 163‑278.7(b)(1) or G.S. 163‑278.12C(a).

(4)The sponsor states in the advertisement
its position for or against a ballot measure, provided that this subdivision
applies only if the advertisement is made for or against a ballot measure.

(5) In a print media advertisement supporting or
opposing the nomination or election of one or more clearly identified
candidates, the sponsor states whether it is authorized by a candidate. The
visual legend in the advertisement shall state either "Authorized by [name
of candidate], candidate for [name of office]" or "Not authorized by
a candidate." This subdivision does not apply if the sponsor of the
advertisement is the candidate the advertisement supports or that candidate's
campaign committee.

(6) In a print media advertisement that identifies a
candidate the sponsor is opposing, the sponsor discloses in the advertisement
the name of the candidate who is intended to benefit from the advertisement.
This subdivision applies only when the sponsor coordinates or consults about
the advertisement or the expenditure for it with the candidate who is intended
to benefit.

(7)In a print media advertisement supporting
or opposing the nomination or election of one or more clearly identified
candidates that is an independent expenditure, the sponsor discloses the names
of the individuals or persons making the five largest donations to the sponsor
within the six‑month period prior to the purchase of the advertisement if
those donations are required to be reported under G.S. 163‑278.12.

(8)In a print media advertisement that is an
electioneering communication, the sponsor discloses the names of the
individuals or person making the five largest donations to the sponsor within
the six‑month period prior to the purchase of the advertisement if those
donations are required to be reported under G.S. 163‑278.12C.

If an advertisement described in this section is jointly
sponsored, the disclosure statement shall name all the sponsors."

PART 57. STUDY ELIMINATION OF 48‑HOUR REPORT

SECTION 57.1. The Joint Legislative Elections
Oversight Committee shall study the elimination of the 48‑hour campaign
finance report provided by G.S. 163‑278.9(4a), and recommend to the
General Assembly any legislation it deems advisable. It may make an interim
report prior to the date that the General Assembly reconvenes the 2013 Regular
Session in 2014, and shall make a final report before the convening of the 2015
Regular Session of the General Assembly.

PART 59. raffles by
candidates or political committees

SECTION 59.1. G.S. 14‑309.15(a) reads
as rewritten:

"(a) It is lawful for any nonprofit organization
or association, recognized by the Department of Revenue as tax‑exempt
pursuant to G.S. 105‑130.11(a), or for any bona fide branch,
chapter, or affiliate of such organization, candidate, political committee, and
for any government entity within the State, to conduct raffles in accordance
with this section. Any person who conducts a raffle in violation of any
provision of this section shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. Upon
conviction that person shall not conduct a raffle for a period of one year. It
is lawful to participate in a raffle conducted pursuant to this section. It
shall not constitute a violation of State law to advertise a raffle conducted
in accordance with this section. A raffle conducted pursuant to this section is
not "gambling". For the purpose of this section, "candidate"
and "political committee" have the meaning provided by Article 22A of
Chapter 163A of the General Statutes, who have filed organization reports under
that Article, and who are in good standing with the appropriate board of
elections. Receipts and expenditures of a raffle by a candidate or political
committee shall be reported in accordance with Article 22A of Chapter 163A of
the General Statutes, and ticket purchases are contributions within the meaning
of that Article."

PART 60. SEVERABILITY AND EFFECTIVE DATE

SECTION 60.1. If any provision of this act or its
application is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or
applications of this act that can be given effect without the invalid
provisions or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are
severable.

SECTION 60.2. This Part is effective when it
becomes law. Except as provided herein, the remainder of this act becomes
effective January 1, 2014.